Koh Samui: The Queen's Cup will celebrate its eighth edition on the Asian Tour at the Santiburi Samui Country Club from June 16-19.
The highly popular event will be supported once again by Bangkok Airways, Sports Authority of Thailand, Thailand PGA and Asian Tour, with prize money of US$300,000 on offer to the region's talented players.
With this addition, the Asian Tour's 2016 season will now see a total of 25 tournaments on the schedule.
Since making its debut on the Asian Tour in 2009, the Queen's Cup has been dominated by Thai golfers, with the likes of Chinnarat Phadungsil, Chawalit Plaphol, Prayad Marksaeng (twice) and Thaworn Wiratchant (twice) winning the event. The only international golfer who has triumphed in Samui is Japan's Tetsuji Hiratsuka.
Next month's Queen's Cup is expected to attract many leading players from the Asian Tour, including Bangladeshi star Siddikur Rahman and Singapore's Mardan Mamat who have contended for the title on numerous occasions in Samui. Both are also fighting to qualify for the Olympic Games.
SAT Governor, Sakol Wanapong said: "On behalf of SAT, we are looking forward to the Queen's Cup in Santiburi Samui Golf Club. One of our key objectives in supporting this prestigious tournament is to provide opportunities for Thai golfers to compete against international players from the Asian Tour.
"With many of our Thai players winning the Queen's Cup since its debut on the Asian Tour, it will be a wonderful opportunity for our local golfers to fast-track their careers. Winning the tournament will mean earning a priceless winner's exemption on the Asian Tour for them to propel onto the international arena."
Kyi Hla Han, Commissioner of Asian Tour, said: "The Queen's Cup is one of our most popular tournaments on the Asian Tour as it is hosted on a truly fantastic destination and golf course."
The addition of the Queen's Cup also means that Thailand will now stage three Asian Tour events this season, namely the True Thailand Classic and the King's Cup.