Event Notes: State New Zealand Open Water Championships Begin This Weekend

Swimmers "will take their first splash" toward the Rio de Janeiro Olympics at the State New Zealand Open Water Championships in Taupo this weekend. At stake is automatic selection to the World Championships later this year. The championships "form part of the two-day State Epic Swim in Lake Taupo." There is also NZ$14,000 ($12,000) of prize money "up for grabs" (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 1/9). ... The Thailand Professional Golf Association "will launch this year's 30-event schedule with two tournaments next week." The season "will feature 12 ThaiPGA Tour and SAT tournaments, 12 Challenge events, four events co-sanctioned with the Korean PGA and two events sanctioned by the Asian Tour -- the King's Cup and Queen's Cup" (BANGKOK POST, 1/9).