Jakarta, Indonesia, August 20: Japan’s Naoki Sekito will be a man on a mission when he competes in the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament 2019 presented by Panasonic, starting on Wednesday.

Sekito has set his sights on sealing the all-important third Asian Development Tour (ADT) victory at the BSD Course by Damai Indah Golf, in Tangerang, Greater Jakarta this week that would earn him an immediate promotion to the Asian Tour.

The 21-year-old had already claimed two titles to date, winning the PGM ADT Penang Championship in April and the Gunung Geulis Golf Invitational during his last trip to Indonesia a fortnight ago.

Sekito had the opportunity to play in last week’s Sarawak Championship through a sponsor’s invitation. Despite missing the cut, the two days of golf was enough to whet his appetite for more action on the region’s premier Tour.

“I was so lucky to get invited for the tournament and I would like to thank Asian Tour for that,”

“Despite missing the cut in Sarawak, I had so much fun, and it was nothing but an eye-opening experience. I can’t wait to take on the big boys again, so I have vowed to return to Asian Tour as soon as I can,” said Sekito, also a three-time runner-up on the ADT this season.

“And the opportunity is just right there for me to make it count. One more win, I’ll get to play the remainder of the season.

“I plan to play six more tournaments, so hopefully it would come soon enough,” added the Japanese.

However, Sekito needs no reminder that winning an ADT event is not going to be a straightforward affair, despite his fantastic record.

“It’s not going to be easy. I know exactly how tough because I had to settle for second on three occasions, one of them through a playoff defeat,” he said.

“I’m quite confident with my game at the moment. As long as I play good, hitting and putting well, I should be able to get into top-10, or top-five.

“That’s what I’m always aiming for, especially do well enough in the first two days to be in contention. I will never pressure myself that I must play to win the tournament,” said Sekito.

Winning his third title or not, Sekito said it is also equally important for him to mind his gap with his closest rivals in the ADT Order of Merit race.

Sekito currently leads the standings with US$42,595, way ahead of second-place Itthipat Buranatanyarat of Thailand (US$28,152.85) and third-place Joohyung Kim of South Korea (US$21,977.85).

“Nothing is certain until the season ends. I will not rest on my laurels just because I have a big lead,” he said.

“Winning the ADT Order of Merit is top of my agenda. Even if I don’t get my third win, I still want to qualify for Asian Tour with better exemption status as an Order of Merit champion.”

Danny Masrin, who finished a respectable tied-21st in Kuching last week, will lead the local charge alongside George Gandranata, who holds the distinction of being the first Indonesian ADT winner when he earned his breakthrough in 2016.

They will be part of the 34-man local contingent vying to become the first Indonesian to win an ADT event on home soil this week.

There is plenty to play for as the best-placed Indonesian at the end of the tournament will earn a spot at the Panasonic Open Japan in 2020.

Masrin had qualified for the event in 2017 and 2018 and he made the opportunities count by finishing creditable tied-19th and tied-fourth respectively.  

Co-sanctioned by the ADT and the Professional Golf Tour of Indonesia, the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament 2019 presented by Panasonic will be the 11th leg of the 2019 ADT season and the third event to be played in Indonesia this year.

Reigning ADT Order of Merit champion and last year’s winner Miguel Carballo of Argentina, Sweden’s Oscar Zetterwall, the 2016 champion, are also set to feature in the event this week.

The leading seven players on the final ADT Order of Merit will earn playing rights on the premier Asian Tour for the 2020 season and the winner of the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament will take home a prize purse of US$19,250.

Ends.