Thailand, Japan bring more on board for Friendship Cup
Team Thailand and Team Japan yesterday announced the latest additions to their lineups, which will compete in the inaugural Amata Friendship Cup later this year.
The Ryder Cup-style event will be held at Amata Spring Country Club in Chon Buri from Dec 21-23.
Thailand captains Boonchu Ruangkit and Virada Nirapathpongporn welcomed Prom Meesawat, Jazz Janewattananond and Thidapa Suwannapura into their ranks.
Their counterparts Naomichi ‘ Joe’ Ozaki and Miho Koga picked Masahiro Kawamura, Fumika Kawagishi and Sakura Koiwai to strengthen the Japanese team.
Prom, Jazz and Thidapa will join Thongchai Jaidee, Kiradech Aphibarnrat and twotime major champion Ariya Jutanugarn in the Thai team.
Kawamura, Kawagishi and Koiwai, meanwhile, will compete f or Team Japan alongside Satoshi Kodaira and Nasa Hataoka.
The unique tournament will see Thailand’s top male and female professionals and amateur golfers compete with an equivalent team of Japan’s top players.
The event has been created to celebrate the friendship between the two countries and promote a narrative of equality and togetherness in golf, making it one of the most progressive and notable occasions in the sport.
Boonchu said: “Virada and I are delighted that we have been able to add to our team Prom, Jazz and Thidapa, the three players who have shown they are capable of winning on a stage.”
Veteran Prom and young star Jazz have won several titles on the Asian Tour.
Thidapa became Thailand’s third champion on the LPGA Tour — after sisters Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn — when she won the Marathon Classic in Ohio in July.
Ozaki said: “Masahiro is definitely a future star and I believe one of the best young competitors on the Japan Tour.
“I have no doubt that he will bring dynamism to our team.
“His confidence will be high after finishing tied for 39th alongside Brooks Koepka at the British Open. I can’t wait to see him out there in December, doing what he does best.”