Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open returns to Phokeethra Country Club

Nov 23rd, 2008
Asia Golf Online

The Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open will mark its return to the Phokeethra Country Club from December 11 to 14 with a promise of continuing the growth of golf in Cambodia.

Organisers are confident that the US$300,000 Asian Tour event will once again provide the platform for aspiring amateurs to make an impact at the highly rated Phokheetra Country Club and continue to place Cambodia firmly on the international golfing map.

Asian Tour’s Senior Vice President Gerry Norquist believes that the staging of Cambodia’s national championship bodes well for the future of golf in such developing countries and will act as a launch pad for exciting talents to emerge.

“We are truly excited about the return of the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open as this event will not only provide the inspiration for Cambodians to learn more about the game but also allow them follow in the footsteps of our Asian Tour professionals,” said Norquist.

As the second from last ranking event on the 2008 Asian Tour season, the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open will also shape the race for the prestigious Asian Tour Order of Merit title which is currently led by Mark Brown of New Zealand.

Defending champion Bryan Saltus of the United States who secured his maiden triumph at last year’s inaugural event will undoubtedly be amongst the contenders again.

The colorful American celebrated his victory by jumping into the lake next to the 18th green after his final putt last year.

The Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open is the only international golf tournament to be held in the Kingdom of Cambodia and is part of a record 2008 Asian Tour schedule where an unprecedented 30 tournaments with nearly US$40 million are on offer.

Didier Lamoot, General Manger of Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort & Phokeethra Country Club said: “We truly enjoyed being a part of history last year with the staging of the inaugural Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open and will continue to assist in laying the concerted effort to push the game to continue its growth in our country.”

American Saltus wins first golf tournament at Cambodian Open

Bryan Saltus of the U.S. holds the trophy on the podium after winning the Cambodian Open golf tournament in Siem Reap December 2, 2007. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Siem Reap (AsianTour.com) - American ace Bryan Saltus secured his maiden Asian Tour title at the Cambodian Open after a solid five-under-par 67 in the final round on Sunday.

Saltus reaped the rewards of his new putter this week firing six birdies against a lone bogey for a winning total of 17-under-par 271 at the esteemed Phokeethra Country Club.

The 36-year-old champion walked away with the top prize of US$47,550 and rose up to 30th place on the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit.

"This is awesome. I would like to dedicate this win to Grateful Dead as they have inspired me all the way. Siem Reap is right up my alley so I've enjoyed my time on and off the course this week," said Saltus, who is an avid Grateful Dead fan having been to 153 concerts.

Overnight leader Adam Groom of Australia posted a 71 to claim lone second spot as he finished three strokes behind the winner in the US$300,000 Asian Tour event. Thai duo of Thaworn Wiratchant and Prom Meesawat recorded matching 70s to claim joint third position after a 277 total

Thanks to a new Gel putter which he picked up this week, Saltus got off to a flying start chalking up three birdies in his first three holes. He extended his lead with a birdie on the 10th and ended his captivating run with a final birdie on the 17th hole.

"My putting has been the winning formula this week. It's also nice to be one stroke off the lead coming into the final round as all eyes would be on the leader and not me.

"I had a good start with three birdies and my confidence carried on after that. I told my caddie (Phal Savern) that if I win, I would buy her a motorbike and now that I've done it, I will get her a brand new motorbike," said the Californian based golfer, who started playing on the Asian Tour since 2004. He picked up the game at the age of 10 and has a trusty self taught golf swing.

"I've enjoyed my time on the Asian Tour and it's really great to be the winner of Cambodia's first ever professional golf event. I will definitely be looking forward to my return next year," added Saltus, who drenched himself in celebration by jumping into the water next to the 18th hole after his final par putt.

Despite a slow final round performance with five birdies against four bogeys, Groom was pleased with his overall result at the lengthy par 7,226 yards par 27 course.

"It's been a good week for me. I've shot four rounds under par which was something I couldn't do all year until this week. It was a tough day out there and catching Bryan was going to be difficult with the form he was in today. But all credit to Bryan for his win this week," said Groom.

Malaysia's Danny Chia posted a 67 for his best finish this season in joint fifth spot alongside Korea's Kang Ji-man who shot a 66. Chapchai Nirat of Thailand ended his campaign with a 73 to claim tied eighth position together with England's Yasin Ali who was even-par for the day.

"My overall game was steady this week but I couldn't really sustain it throughout 18 holes. I am not disappointed with my result. I was tired the entire week and hung in there to finish in the top-10 which was my target," said Chapchai, who climbed up to second spot on the UBS Order of Merit ranking after earning US$7,065 for his efforts this week.
------- Leading final round scores

271 - Bryan Saltus (USA) 66-67-71-67
274 - Adam Groom (AUS) 65-68-70-71
277 - Prom Meesawat (THA) 69-69-69-70, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 70-70-67-70
278 - Danny Chia (MAS) 74-68-69-67, Kang Ji-man (KOR) 74-70-68-66
279 - Anthony Kang (USA) 67-69-71-72
280 - Chapchai Nirat (THA) 68-71-68-73, Yasin Ali (ENG) 72-68-68-72
281 - Harmeet Kahlon (IND) 69-69-73-70
282 - Jerome Delariarte (PHI) 70-72-70-70, Panuwat Muenlek (THA) 70-69-73-70
283 - Atthaphon Prathummanee (THA) 74-72-69-68, Guido Van Der Valk (NLD) 77-68-70-68, Michael Hoey (IRL) 70-73-69-71, Peter Karmis (RSA) 72-70-71-70, Boonchu Ruangkit (THA) 69-72-69-73

Cambodia's Golfers Tee Off in Tournament

By Vong Dara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Siem Reap
29 November 2007

The Johnnie Walker Cambodia Open golf tournament got underway Thursday, after a tee off from Prime Minister Hun Sen in what he called a "historic event."

The 150-player, $300,000 Asian Tour tournament is being held in Siem Reap, near Angkor Wat.

"On behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia and the Cambodian people, I would like to express my warmest welcome to all 150 professionals from 25 countries, and Phokheetra Country Club, which has organized this historic event," Hun Sen said.

"Our organizing of the event is to show our pride, honor and ability, as, for one, golf is quite a new sport in Cambodia, and, second, we don't have professional athletes," said Nim Sowath, an amateur golfer.

George Orwell's Animal Farm in true life: Capitalist pastime for former communist Khmer Rouge soldiers

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen claps during the opening ceremony of Johnnie Walker golf tournament in Siem Reap provincial about 230 kilometers (143 miles) northwest of the Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2007. Hun Sen teed off the first ball of the inaugural US$300,000 (euro203,430) tournament at the recently opened Phokeethra Country Club in Siem Reap province, Cambodia's main tourist hub. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen tees off at the opening ceremony in Siem Reap provincial about 230 kilometers (143 miles) northwest of the Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2007. Hun Sen teed off the first ball of the inaugural US$300,000 (euro203,430) tournament at the recently opened Phokeethra Country Club in Siem Reap province, Cambodia's main tourist hub. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

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Cambodia launches its first international golf tournament near famed Angkor temples

Wednesday, November 28, 2007
The Associated Press

SIEM REAP, Cambodia: Asia launched its newest international golf tournament amid centuries-old Angkor temples when the Cambodian Open teed off Thursday.

Prime Minister Hun Sen teed off the first ball of the inaugural US$300,000 (€203,430) tournament at the recently opened Phokeethra Country Club in Siem Reap province, Cambodia's main tourist hub.

Siem Reap is the nearest town to Cambodia's most popular tourist attraction, the vast network of ancient temples including Angkor Wat — as well as one of just three golf courses in the southest Asian nation.

"The launch of this event symbolizes the growing emergence of professional golf in new golfing countries like Cambodia and it augurs for the game in Asia," Kyi Hla Han, Asian Tour executive chairman, said in a statement.

Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant, a former Asian number one and holder of a record nine victories in the region, is among the golfers competing at the tournament.

Other players include Chapchai Nirat, also from Thailand, and Scotland's Simon Yates, both ranked in the top-10 of the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

Touted as the only international-standard course in Cambodia, Phokeethra is the result of a campaign by the Cambodia government to boost its tourist revenues. The 18-hole, 72-par course is 23 kilometers (14 miles) outside Siem Reap town.

Cambodia's other two golf courses are located near the capital Phnom Penh, with a fourth under construction in Siem Reap.

Tourism is a major foreign currency earner for cash-strapped Cambodia. There were 1.7 million foreign arrivals last year, and more than half of the tourists visited the Angkor temples.

Phokeethra golf course near Angkor Wat temple is a religious desecration?

Golfing at Lara Croft 'Tomb' site

23-Sep-07
David Bowden
The Brunei Times
ANGKOR WAT, THAILAND

CAMBODIA is an intriguing country and one that's now very accessible to many travellers with its open sky policy. The jewel in the country's tourism crown is Angkor Wat - the world's largest religious site.

Visitors to the region soon learn there is more to greater Angkor than Angkor Wat as there are some 1,000 religious sites scattered over 310km sq in northern Cambodia near the township of Siem Reap.

The first temples date back to the late ninth century with the last being completed in the 12th century. Angkor and the Khmer culture were then the most influential in South East Asia but declined for reasons that are still not very clear to archaeologists. The jungles grew back and covered many of the temples for centuries.

Although the Khmer people still visited the temples they were "rediscovered" in the 19th century by Frenchman Henri Mouhot and are now considered one of the world's great archaeological sites. The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) recognises Angkor as a World Heritage Site, preserved for all the people of the world to enjoy.

The recent opening of the Phokeethra Country Club Angkor Wat means that sporting temple-goers now have the opportunity to play a round or two of golf near the temples of Angkor.

The new golf and country club (Tel: +855 63 964 600, www.accorhotels-asia.com) is located just 30-minutes drive from downtown Siem Reap. The 7,145 metre long, paspalum-grassed course sculpted by Bangkok-based "Designer Golf" is providing a new and challenging golfing experience.

This par 72, 18-hole course near Pock Village covers 155 hectares of former padi fields and includes a clubhouse which includes locker rooms and a restaurant. Few courses in the world can claim ancient ruins as fairway obstacles as archaeologists unearthed a 10th century laterite bridge here during the construction of the golf course. The bridge was once located on the road linking Cambodia to present-day Thailand and it's now possible to drive down it with an iron rather than a vehicle.

There are some challenging bunkers on the course and many holes are well-guarded. Some local knowledge is beneficial and the helpful caddies are there to offer advice and a shaded umbrella when necessary.

Lily-lined streams and ponds can be found around the scenic course and the par 4, 14th hole is the most visually striking. It's also the most daring and, bold golfers who want to reach the green in one shot over the water need pin-point accuracy. Most golfers will play safely and aim to the right to make par or even a birdie. The signature, double-water carry, 18th hole features a pin located on a spectacular island green.

Guests staying at the Sofitel Royal Angkor Golf & Spa Resort receive additional benefits such as priority bookings and free transfers to and from the course. A round of golf costs around US$120 ($180) but special packages covering golf, room and some meals are available.

Dedicated temple-goers can spend days exploring Angkor but others can appreciate the main temples in one or two days. There are organised tours or enthusiastic guides and drivers can be hired to travel around the temples for around US$25 per day.

The highlights of most temples are the bas-relief or engravings on the sandstone walls. These intricate engravings include those of celestial dancers or apsaras. The apsaras line several temple walls but none are as spectacular as those on the walls of Angkor Wat itself. Very few are the same so there are thousands of dancers to be seen throughout the temples.

Ta Prohm Temple has been preserved with entwining roots of huge trees enveloping the stonework. The temple was intentionally left by archaeologists to show visitors what much of Angkor looked like in the 19th century when it was "rediscovered". This is the one that fascinated Angelina Jolie in the movie Lara Croft Tomb Raider.

Siem Reap is now a very trendy town that attracts the hip and cool. Many international hotel chains have established here and there are some smart cafés and restaurants.

Red Piano is a landmark corner restaurant in an old colonial house and its dominant red and green lights are a little hard to miss. Dine upstairs or alfresco on the pavement and note the many images of Angelina Jolie dining here.

The Foreign Correspondence Club offers a great open restaurant and some smart accommodation. For those who seeking designer hotels, the Arts Lounge in the Hotel de la Paix has one of the most innovative interiors with lounge beds and ever-changing coloured lights around the counter.

Raffles Lounge is as plush as the name suggests and is frequented by the rich and famous, wannabes and writers. Visitors from Asean don't require a visa to enter Cambodia.