Prayad, Lee lead the cast in Khon Kaen

Thai veteran Prayad Marksaeng and emerging South Korean star Lee Jeong-Eun will headline the All Thailand Golf Tour seasonopening Singha E-San Open this week.

In its 20th year, the domestic circuit tees off tomorrow at Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club and the E-San Open serves as the curtain-raiser for the 12-event tour.

This year’s events, some of them cosanctioned by other regional tours, will include trips to tourist resorts like Chiang Rai, Khon Kaen, Chon Buri, Rayong, Hua Hin and Phuket.

With a total purse of 3.2 million baht on offer in Khon Kaen, the men’s field is led by Prayad, while Lee will be the main attraction in the women’s event.

The winner of the men’s event will earn 450,000 baht, and the women’s champion will take home 32,000 baht.

The 52-year-old Prayad will be looking for his third win in Khon Kaen after bagging the title in 2007 and 2013.

Gunn Charoenkul, the winner in 2012 and 2014, and Thaworn Wiratchant, the champion in 2010 and 2015, will also be hunting for their third victories in the tournament.

Defending champion Danthai Boonma, Rattanon Wannasrichan, last year’s runner-up Chapchai Nirat, Namchok Tantiphokakul and 2011 champion Udon Duangdecha are the other leading contenders for this week’s title.

In the women’s event, current Korean LPGA No.1 Lee will be testing the mettle of an army of local players led by Kanphanitnan Muangkhumsakul, Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong, Nemittra Juntanaket.

The 23-year-old Lee, who has been training in Khon Kaen for some time, won four KLPGA titles last year, which earned her the money winner award.

Kanphanitnan will be seeking her third title after her success here in 2013 and 2014.