Who's who: Boonchu Ruangkit

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  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: Boonchu Ruangkit

  • Name:

    Boonchu Ruangkit
  • Country:

    Thailand
  • Born:

    May 12, 1956 in Bangkok, Thailand.
  • Original/Home Club:

    Royal Army GC, Bangkok.
  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer
  • Turned Pro:

    1986

Roll of Honour

Multiple wins on the Asian Tr, European Snr and Japan Snr Tours. European Snr Tour Order of Merit winner (2010).

Did you know?

Ruangkit grew up playing golf at the Royal Army Course in Bangkok, although he started his professional sporting career in kick-boxing. It didn't take too many knock-downs before he switched his attention to golf.

Among many notable achievements in his golf career, Ruangkit hit the opening drive to launch the Asian PGA circuit in 1995. He also launched the newly-formed Asian Tour in similar fashion at the 2004 Thailand Open. He went on to win this event by five shots, becoming the Asian Tour's oldest tournament winner - aged 47.

In 2010 Buangkit joined the European Senior Tour and won the second, third and fourth tournaments of the season. With another victory in October he topped the Tour's 2010 Order of Merit.

Top tournaments won by Boonchu Ruangkit

2011
Europe
207 (-9)
€48,192
Travis Perkins

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Ruangkit, Boonchu

Score

207 (-9)

Prize money

€48,192

Title sponsor

Travis Perkins

Played as the Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters (Sept 2-4). Second-placed Gordon Brand Jr (Scot), Roger Chapman (Eng) and Barry Lane (Eng) finished 4 shots behind Boonchu Ruangkit (Thai), who recorded the last of his five European Senior Tour wins. [Duke's course, Woburn GC, nr Milton Keynes, Bucks].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Ruangkit, Boonchu

Score

197 (-16)

Prize money

€27,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Benahavis Senior Masters (Oct 15-17). Second-placed Carl Mason (Eng) and John Gould (Eng) finished 7 shots behind Ruangkit (Thai) who notched up his fourth Eurpn Snr Tr win in 2010. [La Quinta G&CC, Costa del Sol, Spain].

2010
Awards
€266,609
see Score
Eurpn Snr Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Ruangkit, Boonchu

Venue

Score

€266,609

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

Eurpn Snr Tr

Ruangkit (Thai) won the Eurpn Snr Tr 2010 Rookie of the Year Award as the leading first-season player. He finished top of the Tour's Order of Merit, with earnings of €266,609.

2010
Awards
€266,609
see Score
Eurpn Snr Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Ruangkit, Boonchu

Venue

Score

€266,609

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

Eurpn Snr Tr

Ruangkit (Thai), in his rookie season, won the Eurpn Snr Tr 2010 Order of Merit and associated John Jacobs Trophy, with earnings of €266,609 on the Tour. Chris Williams (RSA) was second with €227,350; Angel Franco (Par) was third with €217,308.

2010
Asia
195 (-21)
€43,815
Chang

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Ruangkit, Boonchu

Score

195 (-21)

Prize money

€43,815

Title sponsor

Chang

Played as the inaugural (and only) Chang Thailand Senior Masters presented by ISPS (March 12-14). Second-placed Jamnian Chitprasong (Thai), Frankie Minoza (Phil) and Katsuyoshi Tomori (Jpn) finished a distant 11 shots behind Ruangkit (Thai), who won his second straight European Snr Tour title. In winning this event, Ruangkit broke some of the tour's records, including the lowest 54-hole score to par and 54-hole winning margin. [RG Salaya G&SC, Salaya, nr Bangkok; at the time known as Royal Gems GC].

2010
Asia
199 (-14)
€44,332
Aberdeen

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Ruangkit, Boonchu

Score

199 (-14)

Prize money

€44,332

Title sponsor

Aberdeen

Played as the Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters presented by The Stapleford Forum (March 5-7). Ruangkit (Thai) beat Frankie Minoza (Phil) at the second hole of a playoff to record his first European Senior Tour win. [Empire Hotel & CC, Jerudong, Brunei].

2010
Europe
216 (-3)
€75,000
Berenberg

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Ruangkit, Boonchu

Score

216 (-3)

Prize money

€75,000

Title sponsor

Berenberg

Played as the inaugural Berenberg Bank Masters (March 26-28). Second-placed Bobby Lincoln (RSA) and Sam Torrance (Scot) finished 3 shots behind Ruangkit (Thai), who became the first player since Tommy Horton (in 1997) to win three straight European Snr Tour events. [Links course, Fancourt, George, Western Cape, RSA].

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Ruangkit, Boonchu

Score

Prize money

THB 1 mill

Title sponsor

Chevrolet

Played as the Chevrolet Championship (July 13-16; Thai Tr event). Won by Ruangkit (Thai). [B+D nines, Burapha GC, nr Pattaya, Chonburi, Thailand].

2004
Asia
Royal Thai Air Force GC
270 (-18)
US$48,450
x

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Ruangkit, Boonchu

Venue

Royal Thai Air Force GC

Score

270 (-18)

Prize money

US$48,450

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Thailand Open (Jan 22-25; Asian Tr event). Second-placed Prayad Marksaeng (Thai) and Jong-duk Kim (S Kor) finished 2 shots behind 47-year-old Ruangkit (Thai). [Royal Thai Air Force GC, Don Muang, Bangkok]. NOTE: This was the inaugural event for the revamped Asian Tour, now run by a more player-focused organisation.

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Ruangkit, Boonchu

Score

Prize money

THB 1 mill

Title sponsor

Singha

Played as the Singha Classic (July 23-26; Thai Tour event). Won by Ruangkit (Thai). [Springfield Royal CC, nr Hua Hin, Thailand].

1998
Asia
Taiwan G&CC
279
Mercuries

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Ruangkit, Boonchu

Venue

Taiwan G&CC

Score

279

Prize money

Title sponsor

Mercuries

Played as the Mercuries Taiwan Masters. Won by Ruangkit (Thai). [Tamsui course, Taiwan G&CC, Taipei, Taiwan].

1997
Asia
Yangon City GC
273 (-15)
US$32,300
x

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Ruangkit, Boonchu

Venue

Yangon City GC

Score

273 (-15)

Prize money

US$32,300

Title sponsor

x

Played as the London Myanmar Open (April 10-13; Asian Tr event). Defending champion Ruangkit (Thai) beat John Senden (Aus) at the first playoff hole. [Ngwe Taw Thar (Silvery) course, Yangon City GC, Insein, Yangon, Myanmar (Rangoon, Burma)].

1996
Asia
276 (-12)
US$32,300
Lexus

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Ruangkit, Boonchu

Venue

Bangpoo

Score

276 (-12)

Prize money

US$32,300

Title sponsor

Lexus

Played as the inaugural Lexus International (Asian Tr event). Ruangkit (Thai) beat Mike Cunning (USA) at the first playoff hole. [Bangpoo GC, nr Bangkok, Thailand].

1996
Asia
Yangon GC
293 (+5)
US$24,225
x

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Ruangkit, Boonchu

Venue

Yangon GC

Score

293 (+5)

Prize money

US$24,225

Title sponsor

x

Played as the inaugural Myanmar Open Championship (Jan 5-8; Asian Tr event). Ruangkit (Thai) beat Jeff Senior (Aus) with a par at the first playoff hole. [Yangon GC, Yangon, Myanmar (Rangoon, Burma)].

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Ruangkit, Boonchu

Score

273 (-15)

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Langkawi Open (Asian Tr event). Second-placed Jamnian Chitprasong (Thai) finished 7 shots behind Ruangkit (Thai). [Els Club Teluk Datai, Langkawi, Malaysia; at the time known as Datai Bay GC].

1995
Awards
x
Johnnie Walker

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Ruangkit, Boonchu

Venue

Score

x

Prize money

Title sponsor

Johnnie Walker

Ruangkit (Thai) won the Johnnie Walker Asian Player of the Year Award.

1992
Asia
275
US$33,320
x

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Ruangkit, Boonchu

Venue

Score

275

Prize money

US$33,320

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Thai International Thailand Open (Asian Tr event). Remi Bouchard (Can), Richard Backwell (Aus) and Thaworn Wiratchant (Thai) finished in second place behind Ruangkit Boonchu (Thai), who became the second consecutive home winner of this event.

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