US$32,000 raised for youngsters in Phuket Property Pro Am
June 19, 2011

The 2011 Phuket Property Dot Com Pro Am Invitational, held in Phuket, Thailand at the award-winning Laguna Phuket Golf Club, was a sell-out success with over 20 golf Pros and 70 plus amateurs enjoying a great day of golf at Phuket's Charity Pro Am event.

Professionals from the Asian Tour and OneAsia Tour gathered in Phuket to 'give something back', with the US$32,000 raised from the golf day and charity gala dinner at B-Lay Tong Resort going to the Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation.

Peter Bolton (3rd from right), Co-Founder of PhuketProperty.com and Title Sponsor of the 2011 Phuket Property Dot Com Pro Am Invitational, welcomes the first team to tee off at the 2011 event, including Thai Pro Jamnian Chitprasong (second left).

Pro's came from around the world, even rescheduling UK dates to be at the Pro Am, and amateurs came from around Thailand and the region, with teams from Hong Kong. A notable increase in the number of Thai Pros (5) and Thai amateurs was evident this year.

“The turnout was fantastic. So many Pros gave up their time to take part in the charity Pro Am, and there was great support from the amateur golfers, which together made the whole event a huge success. We're really pleased how this, the second Phuket Property Dot Com Pro Am Invitational went, and everybody's efforts are appreciated,” said Peter Bolton, Co-Founder of Phuket Property Dot Com and Title Sponsor of the event.

Variable conditions of glorious sunshine and gusting winds met the golfers which produced some challenging play and frustrated some golfers (Pros and amateurs alike). Prizes on every hole and drinks and snacks served around the course, however, made the day a lot of fun for all.

The overall team stableford competition was close with third place won by Blake Ellison and team (87 points) and second place by Andy Leadbetter, son of legendary golf teaching professional David Leadbetter, and his team (88 points). Overall winners were the team lead by USA-born Pro and currently head coach of the Thailand National Golf Team, Gerry Norquist. Scoring 90 points, their consistency over 18 holes delivered them the 2011 Phuket Property Dot Com Pro Am Invitational title.

Lowest Gross overall for an amateur went to Danny Brown (76), while Lowest Men's Net was won by Rory Byrne (69) and Lowest Women's Net by Addy Brehm (66). Blake Ellison won Best Gross Score for a local Pro.

From l to r: Andy Leadbetter (Pro); Chang Song (Pro); Peter Bolton, Co-Founder of Phuket Property Dot Com and Title Sponsor of the Pro Am; Tina Hall, Director of Operations, Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation; Gerry Norquist, winner of the 2011 event (Pro); and Bryan Saltus (Pro).

A highlight this year was the huge prize purse, totalling over USD160,000. In addition to the Gala Dinner charity auction prizes, there were nearest the pin prizes on every hole, longest drive on Hole 2, and overall winners prizes, as well as two fantastic hole-in-one prizes on offer. A Sessa 19 Key Largo (Hole 11, 150 yards, par three) courtesy of Max-Marine Asia; and a Mini Cooper S (Hole 16, 150 yards, par three) courtesy of Auto Express. After over 90 attempts on the day, no-one downed-in-one and neither prizes were claimed.

At the luxury B-Lay Tong Resort, all the players came together for the Gala Dinner and an evening of fun, and to raise money for the Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation. At the end of the night, organisers announced a total of over USD32,000 had been raised to support the English language programmes for Thai children operated by the Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation. The Foundation works to improve the economic opportunities and life chances of young people, by funding and implementing high quality, practical English language education in government schools on Phuket Island. For further information visit www.phukethasbeengoodtous.org.

Sponsors of the 2011 Phuket Property Dot Com Pro Am Invitational, include Title Sponsor PhuketProperty.com; Official Golf Sponsor Laguna Phuket Golf Club; Hole Sponsors Auto Express, Baan Rim Pa, Da Maurizio Bar Ristorante, Joe's Downstairs, Lee Marine, Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort, LoudMouth, Phuket International Academy, Serenity Resort & Residences Phuket, Sunseeker, Tai Pan, Tapas Tree, The Yamu; Official Hotel Sponsor The Nap Patong; Supporting Hotels Absolute World Group, Banyan Tree Phuket, Serenity Resort & Residences Phuket; Official Gala Dinner Sponsors Ambrose Wine Ltd, B-Lay Tong Resort; and Official Media Partners Phuket Gazette, PGTV and 91.5FM.