European Senior Tour sensation Boonchu Ruangkit will attempt to create yet more history when he chases a record-equalling fourth consecutive victory at this week’s Handa Senior Masters presented by The Stapleford Forum.
The Thai player, whose 54th birthday coincides with the opening round on Wednesday, leads the Senior Tour Order of Merit by €47,896 from Ryder Cup Captain Sam Torrance after winning each of the past three events, in Brunei, Thailand and South Africa.
He could become the only player other than Tommy Horton in 1997/8 to win four consecutive events on either the European, Senior or Challenge Tour.
Ruangkit has ripped up the record books so far this season, setting a new record low total of 21 under par 195 and winning margin of 11 strokes in the Chang Thailand Senior Masters presented by ISPS.
Victory in the Berenberg Bank Masters in South Africa last month made him the quickest player in Senior Tour history to win three events, doing so in just seven appearances.
That means he heads to Stapleford Park attempting to become the fastest player to win four times on the Senior Tour, which would eclipse Carl Mason’s record of four wins in 11 events set in 2003.
Should he succeed and capture the €71,381 first prize, Ruangkit would also surpass the €170,696 that Torrance amassed en route to winning the 2009 Order of Merit, just five events into the new campaign.
While his victories so far have come in Asia – in events also backed by this week’s title sponsor, the International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS) and its chairman Dr Haruhisa Handa - and South Africa, Ruangkit is confident he can successfully adapt to the first event of the 2010 season in continental Europe.
“If I can keep my present form going I think I can play everywhere,” he said. “I’m enjoying a very successful period in senior golf and I am having fun setting new records It’s great having the chance to do something new and I am loving playing on the Senior Tour at the moment.
“I had not thought about winning the Order of Merit before South Africa but I am now looking forward to playing in England and if it is not too cold I will try to make it four wins.”
Torrance finished joint second behind Ruangkit in South Africa and is currently runner-up in the Order of Merit as he attempts to retain the John Jacobs Trophy he won as leading Senior Tour player in 2009.
The Scot is a former captain at Stapleford Park, in Leicestershire, and he will be keen to take advantage of his knowledge of the Donald Steel-designed course to narrow the gap at the top of the standings and build on his three top five finishes in four appearances so far this season.
He said: “I’m playing magnificently at the moment and I feel confident every time I go out on the course so I’m looking forward to going back to Stapleford Park, which is a place I know well.
“Boonchu has been unbelievable in the past three events and he will take some stopping this year but I’m determined to retain my John Jacobs Trophy. It would be fantastic to get another victory to help me en route to doing that.”
Torrance is an ambassador for title sponsor ISPS and is joined in the field by fellow Ryder Cup Captain Ian Woosnam, who will be hoping to improve on a relatively slow start to the campaign by his own high standards.
Making his Senior Tour debut at Stapleford Park is Andrew Oldcorn, winner of the 2001 PGA Championship at Wentworth Club, who turned 50 on March 31.
The Scot’s preparations for the event were disrupted when he had to withdraw from last week’s BMW Italian Open on The European Tour due to the travel disruption in his homeland caused by the volcanic ash cloud, however he is keen to begin his second career on the Senior Tour.
“I’m looking forward to getting back amongst my peers,” he said. “I’ve been waiting to get on to the Senior Tour for quite a well but now that it is here I feel like I have talked about it too long and I want to get started and see how I do. It’s my debut and I know I’m going to be nervous but I’m looking forward to it.”
Christy O’Connor Jnr, the 1999 and 2000 Senior Open Champion, and Wayne Grady, the 1990 US PGA Championship winner, both make rare appearances on the Senior Tour this week, while Englishman John Harrison, who won the Senior Tour Qualifying School in November, makes his debut after turning 50 last week.
