Thailand’s Nopparat Panichphol survived an early play-off scare to secure victory after four extra holes at the Indonesia Pro-Am presented by Combiphar and Nomura today, edging Su Ching-hung of Chinese Taipei after the pair finished tied in normal play.

The first play-off saw the pair both make the fairway from the tee, with Su hitting his second shot to within three feet, putting the pressure on Nopparat who ended past the pin with around 10 feet to the hole.

He missed his birdie attempt with a tap in for par, but Su was unable to convert his birdie, sending them back to the 18th tee for a second try in the US$125,000 ADT event.

After both parred the second playoff hole, officials changed the pin position, but again they parred and returned to the tee for the fourth time.

This time Su flared his drive to the right penalty area and although he made the green on his third shot, he was unable to make par.

Nopparat once again drove to the center of the fairway, and despite being unable to make birdie after leaving himself around eight feet to finish, the tap-in par was enough to clinch his second win on the Asian Development Tour.

“On the first hole, I was not too far but he was close to the pin,” Nopparat said after his close shave while chasing victory. “I thought he would win but he missed the putt.

With position perfect drives on all four playoff holes, he revealed his plan that allowed him to last the distance on the West course at Gunung Geulis Country Club in Bogor, Indonesia.

“On the second, third and last hole, I hit to the same spot,” he said. “Same distance, 100 yards into the wind, with the back pin I had to change club and add a little more,” he added.

In the mixed Pro-Am event, where leading ADT players were paired with invited guests, Sofjan Arsad and Darcy Brereton clinched the US$25,000 team prize after a countback ahead of Ben Tumbel and Kammalas Namuangruk.

“The format is great,” said Nopparat when asked about the mixed event setup. ” It’s great to play with amateurs as a team, not only with professionals all the time because when we are playing, everyone is focused on the game and the score,” he added.

Nopparat (65) matched his round two score with the low round of the day to vault to the top of the leaderboard, while second round leader Su (68) had to battle to maintain position after three early bogeys threatened to derail his round.

England’s Finlay Mason (67) put himself in early contention with a hole-out eagle on the par four fourth hole, but a double bpgey two holes later dropped him back to the field and a share of third place.

He shared the position with leading Indonesian player Naraajie Ramadhanputra (68) and Carl Jano Corpus of the Philippines (69).

Siddikur Rahman (68) of Bangladesh and America’s Grant Godfrey (70) shared sixth spot, while rounding out the top ten with a share of eighth spot were last month’s winner Matt Killen (68) of England, Australia’s Darcy Brereton (68), Liu Yung-hua (68) of Chinese Taipei, Indonesia’s Jonahan Wijono (69) and Roberto Lebrija (66) of Mexico.

The ADT returns to action next month with the Nam A Bank Vietnam Masters, with the US$90,000 event to be played at Royal Long An Golf & Country Club in Vietnam from October 8-10.

Main picture: Nopparat Panichphol of Thailand with the winner’s trophy following his victory in the Indonesia Pro-Am presented by Combiphar and Nomura at Gunung Geulis Country Club. Picture courtesy OB Golf.

Carl Jano Corpus of the Philippines played a solid round to edge into the lead of the Indonesia Pro-Am presented by Combiphar and Nomura today, his bogey-free round of 66 giving him a share of the lead with Su Ching-hung (64) of Chinese Taipei.

Grant Godfrey (65) of the USA and Indonesia’s Naraajie Ramadhan Putra (62) share third place going into the final round of the US$125,000 Asian Development Tour mixed event, followed by England’s Finlay Mason (65) a shot further back.

At 12 under after two rounds, Corpus made no mistakes during the day, opening with two birdies from hole 12 in the shotgun start and finishing with two more to secure his position.

“I played pretty well today,” he said after his round. “I had a couple of really long par putts that I wanted to make and made almost all of them today.

“I tried to stay patient as much as I could as I knew there were three par fives coming into my last six holes and I took advantage of that.

“I did what it took to get myself into the right spots, the right opportunities. It’s not easy. Most of the holes were on slopes, but it was difficult for everyone.

“When I think about it that way, everyone is playing the same course and I was lucky that I was able to make good putts today, that’s all it took for me,” he added.

Su, in his debut season on the ADT, managed to get to grips with the course, playing on the East course in the second round of the mixed event, which sees leading Asian Development Tour players joining forces with invited guests in a Pro-Am format.

“I’m feeling really good,” he said after his round. “I made many birdies today and on this course you have to be in the fairway because if you miss it it will cost you a shot.

“I think on the West course, the greens are more difficult, and on the East course the greens are softer. My second shot and putting was good today, I only missed one green which gave me a lot of birdie chances,” he said.

Naraajie, the leading Indonesian player, made the low round of the day with a bogey-free 62, and said after posting his score that his experience at the venue helped him a great deal.

Playing on the West course, and starting on the first tee in the shotgun start format, he took his time to get going but after his first birdie on the par-three third hole, he picked up eight more shots on his way to the finish.

“I hit a lot of goods shots today and made a lot of birdie putts, especially inside three metres,” he said after signing his card.

“Very happy with the way I finished, nine under, very happy with that,” he added.

“I like the West course better,” he revealed, “because I have played it a lot in the last few years. I feel I know the West course better than the East because I have played here since I was a junior, I have a lot of good memories over the last few years.”

Mason, who also had a bogey-free round, is on solo fifth spot, ahead of Nopparat Panichphol (65) and Waris Manthorn (68) of Thailand, Indonesia’s Jonathan Wijono (67), Miguel Carballo (68) of Argentina and Bangladesh’s Siddikur Rahman (66).

As the event enters the final day, the cut was made among the professional players at three under par, meaning 54 players will compete tomorrow for the US$125,000 purse.

For the Pro-Am, a hard cut of the top 20 teams will see the front-runners compete for an additional purse of US$25,000, with the leading team of Mohamad Rizky / Natipong Srithong two shots ahead of Luke Evan Moore / Suradit Yongcharoenchai and Liong Santoso / Carl Jano Corpus.

Professional players who were cut but remain in the Pro-Am part of the tournament will play the final day without competing for the main prize money. The Pro-Am portion of the prize money will be shared by the team but will not count towards the season-long Order of Merit on the ADT.

Main picture: Carl Jano Corpus of the Philippines pictured in action at during the second round of the Indonesia Pro-Am presented by Combiphar and Nomura at Gunung Geulis Country Club. Picture courtesy OB Golf.

Thailand’s Weerawish Narkprachar set the early pace at the Indonesia Pro-Am presented by Combiphar and Nomura today, his bogey-free round of 63 giving him a one shot lead over Japan’s Naoki Sekito and Carl Jano Corpus of the Philippines.

The 54-hole US$125,000 tournament, played on the East and West courses of the Gunung Geulis Country Club in Bogor, on the outskirts of Jakarta, matches leading Asian Development Tour players with invited guests.

And with three hole in ones in the first round, amateur Liong Santoso pitched in to help partner Corpus into first place in the team competition with an ace on the 11th hole West Course.

Also holing out from the tee were England’s Matt Killen, winner in last month’s Ciputra Golfpreneur tournament, who aced the fifth hole on the West course, and Malaysia’s Paul San, who jarred the second hole on the East course.

“I started off a bit slow but I picked it up on hole three and four,” said Weerawish after his round, which began on Hole 15 in the shotgun start. “Then on six to nine I made all birdies, it was a wonderful finish and I hope I can keep it up tomorrow,” he added.

“I know it’s a tough stretch (holes two-five) but I managed to hit it close on hole three, a long par three, and made an easy birdie there. Hole four I had a tough putt but luckily it went in and my game just started to flow from there,” he said.

“The shotgun start felt a bit weird but at the end of the day we play every hole the same and it’s also fun to start on a par three,” he added.

Sekito (64), who shares second place with Corpus, enjoyed his return to the Bogor course, where he has tournament wins in 2023 and 2019.

“Honestly I don’t really know why I play really well here at Gunung Geulis,” he said, “but I have won here twice and every time I come back it feels like a second home and it gives me a lot of confidence.

“I played the West course today, which is a bit easier than the East course, you can make more birdies. Tomorrow I will try to not make a lot of mistakes and hopefully can make a few birdies.

“This course everyone can shoot low because it’s not a long course, East or West, so I just want to keep shooting under par for the next two days,” he added.

For Corpus, winner of the second leg of the Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech in June, he focused on getting his ball in the right place on the greens.

“It’s my first time here but I am quite confident in my ability and I have set up a game plan to give myself the most opportunities,” he said after his round.

“The course was in really good shape today, the fairways were in pristine condition and the greens were amazing. The greens were really fast and you had to be below the hole and that was the strategy I had the whole day,” he said.

“You have to keep it below the hole, especially on the West course, you can’t really go for it even if you are on the green if you are not under the hole, definitely not,” he stressed.

“That was one of the things I did really well today,” he said. “I had a lucky chip in eagle on hole number nine, it took two bounces and hopped in the hole, but that’s just one of those breaks I can’t take for granted.

“I was given the opportunity to play even better and I did,” he said. “I had a stretch of four birdies, and on those four holes, I put myself in position to make birdies and I’m happy with that.”

In fourth place, on six under par, Thailand’s Waris Manthorn and Witchayapat Sinsrang shared position with Argentina’s Miguel Carballo and Malaysia’s Shahriffuddin Ariffin, who celebrated his birthday today.

Play continues tomorrow with the teams switching courses between East and West and all players teeing off at 7.30am with a continuation of the shotgun start.

Main picture: Thailand’s Weerawish Narkprachar pictured in action at during the first round of the Indonesia Pro-Am presented by Combiphar and Nomura at Gunung Geulis Country Club. Picture courtesy OB Golf.

England’s Matt Killen overcame a shaky start in the final round of the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament, but closed strongly to secure his first professional win with a commanding four shot victory.

With two birdies and two bogeys in the first five holes, Killen (68) had to maintain focus as his overnight lead in the US$150,000 event was quickly under threat from playing partners, compatriot Steve Lewton (72) and Ho Yu-cheng of Chinese Taipei (69).

But a third birdie helped him make the turn at one under for the day, and then it was solid par golf through most of the homeward stretch at Damai Indah’s BSD course. Birdie on 16 and eagle on 18 made sure of the win and the Englishman was left to savour his first victory since turning pro in 2014.

“I don’t really know how I feel right now, to be honest, but obviously I’m happy and pleased to get it done,” he said after his round.

“I had no idea what was happening (on the leaderboard) except for what Steve (Lewton) and Freddie (Ho Yu-cheng) were at in my group, because of the carrying scoreboard. I didn’t know if someone in the other groups had gone low or not, so I just tried not to think about it.

“When I hit it on the green (18) I knew that was probably it. Then, when I got on the green, Robbie (Lewton’s caddie) asked if I wanted to know the score. He said, ‘You’ve got a two-shot lead.’ So at that point I knew I could three-putt and it would still be fine, which actually helped me a little bit on that putt.

“At the start of my career, I never knew if I would win. My first year on the ADT, I played 16 tournaments and missed 15 cuts. Sometimes you wonder if you’re ever going to do it. But I knew I’d been trending well this year, shooting a lot of low scores on various tours, so I knew I was getting close. It’s nice to finally finish it off.

“I definitely started believing in myself more. It’s taken work and time. Overall, I’ve tried to improve my game little by little in all areas, all the time. I’ve never felt my game has gone up and then down — I’ve always felt like I’ve been gradually getting better.

“I can’t pinpoint one specific thing. I feel like I’ve gotten a little bit better at everything. I’ve always felt that my mind is my biggest asset, but one I’ve never really used well. Now I feel like I’m getting better at it. There’s still a long way to go, but I’m improving.

“The goal is to get my Asian Tour card back after losing it last year, so we’ll see where we’re at and go from there. My priority is to play in Asia, and obviously to focus on the Asian Tour to get back there after losing my card last year.

“It’s not just about the win. I still feel like whether I won today or not, it wouldn’t change the way I think about my game and the things I’m working on. But it is a nice validation that I’m doing the right things,” he added.

Thailand’s Tawit Polthai secured second place with a solid 66, putting together a string of birdies and a closing eagle after dropping a shot on the par five fourth hole. His second place prize-money has pushed him to the top of the ADT Order of Merit, where he leads Aidric Chan. Killen’s victory moves him up into third place in the OOM.

In third place, on 20 under par, Angelo Que (64) of the Philippines shared honours with Malaysia’s Shahriffuddin Ariffin (62), who stormed up the final round standings with a sparkling 10 under par, despite a bogey on the par four 16th.

“Really happy,” he said after his round. “I just enjoy playing here, and don’t think too much. I was really happy with my caddy today because he helped to clear my mind. The hardest birdie was on the last, because that was for 10 under,” he laughed.

“This is my lowest score in a tournament, and also the lowest score over four rounds,” he added. “This tournament has a strong field, many Asian Tour players this week, which gave me a lot of energy and motivation.”

Malaysia’s Shahriffuddin Ariffin pictured in action during the final round of the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament at Damai Indah’s Bumi Serpong Damai course.

In fifth place, on 19 under par, Charles Porter (65) of the USA shared honours with Thailand’s Kosuke Hamamoto (66), Lewton and fellow-Englishman Ben Jones (66).

First round leader Pep Angles (66) of Spain shared 10th place with Ho and England’s Finlay Mason (65), followed by India’s Ajeetesh Sandhu (66) in solo 12th position. Thirteenth place was shared by Mexico’s Roberto Lebrija (64) and the Malaysian duo of Paul San (67) and Marcus Lim (68).

Action on the ADT now moves a short distance south to Bogor and the Gunung Geulis Country Club for the Indonesia Pro-Am presented by Combiphar and Nomura. This will be is the ninth tournament on the 2025 schedule and will take place from September 1-12.

Main picture: Matt Killen of England pictured with the winner’s trophy following his victory in the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament at Damai Indah’s Bumi Serpong Damai course.

England’s Matt Killen applied the pressure in a rain-delayed third round of the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament in Jakarta today, posting the low round of the day with a bogey-free 64 and securing a two shot lead over the field.

Indonesia’s Peter Gunawan (66) was one of three players similarly blessed with an error-free day, alongside Weerawish Narkprachar (66) of Thailand and Singapore’s Koh Dengshan (66). They were joined in second place by Paul San (66) of Malaysia and England’s Steve Lewton (66).

Shotaro Ban of the USA, a late entrant to the US$150,000 Asian Development Tour event, dropped two shots on his way to a 67, and sits three shots back in joint seventh place with Hoho Yue of Hongkong and the Thai trio of Nirun Sae-ueng, Chonjarem Baramithanaseth and Tawit Polthai.

“Obviously there’s eight birdies which was nice,” said Killen after his round, “but if I was to pick a couple I had a really good up and down on 13 straight after we went back out on the weather delay. I had a 40 yard pitch to quite an awkward pin and I hit a very good shot there.

“Then I hit four iron into the green on the last . You have got to hit a good shot into the last green so it was nice to hit a good shot there,” he added.

With a golden opportunity to secure his first win on the ADT, Killen knows he will have to dig deep to get over the line in the final round, especially with such a strong field.

“I’ll try to do exactly the same,” he said. “I know everyone says it but I’ll just go one shot at a time, add them up at the end and see where it leaves me on the last green.

“A win would be very important obviously in terms of ranking points and where it would put me and just getting that win is something I really want as well, so we’ll leave it at that.”

With tournament winners on both the Asian Tour and the ADT in the field, including former Order of Merit winner Jazz Janewattananond, the second round cut of five under par was the joint lowest cut score on the ADT, matching the 2019 Boonchu Ruangkit Championship.

“The standard is very good,” said Killen. “We’ve got a strong field. The golf course is in good condition so you can hole some putts, which helps the scoring, we have some reachable par fives and a driveable par four which brings the score down a little bit. There’s a good standard of golf out there and people are playing well,” he added.

Peter Gunawan of Indonesia pictured in action at the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament at Damai Indah’s Bumi Serpong Damai course.

Gunawan, who held the clubhouse low round until bested by Killen, said he made some changes to his game, showing his growing experience with the occasional outing on the Asian Tour.

“I had a whole lot of fun, first and foremost,” he said after his round. “I got off to a pretty good start, I changed up a bit on my strategy, played a little more conservative off the tee, mini driver rather than driver today and the premium of hitting the fairways shows.

“Yesterday I was blasting driver as long as I could with wedges in hand but in the rough it was hard to get close to the hole. I left myself a little bit further out today with the mini driver but because I’m on the short grass it’s a lot easier to control my proximity,” he revealed.

“After playing a few Asian Tour events I realised these guys are playing no-pressure golf and here I am blasting driver on the tightest fairways, making it a lot tougher on myself, so I’m definitely working on making the margins a bit easier for me. “

With Round Three completed, the final round will start on schedule at 6.54am local time, with the leaders teeing it up at 8.30am.

Main picture: Matt Killen of England pictured in action at the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament at Damai Indah’s Bumi Serpong Damai course.

Marcus Lim of Malaysia reeled off the second of two seven under par 65s in the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament on Thursday, securing a slender lead going into the final rounds at Damai Indah’s Bumi Serpong Damai course outside Jakarta, Indonesia.

With just a single dropped shot in two rounds, he leads the English duo of Matt Killen (65) and Steve Lewton (70) by a single stroke as the US$150,000 Asian Development Tour event got back on track following a rain delay at the close of play.

Half of the field was back out on course early to finish Round One, and although the weather held up, Round Two was also cut short due to darkness at 5.56pm and seven groups completed their rounds after starting at 6.30am. The cut was eventually made at five under par, the lowest on record for the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament and a joint tie for lowest cut on the ADT with the 2019 Boonchu Ruangkit Championship in Thailand.

Despite an impressive array of birdies over two rounds, Lim revealed he came unstuck on the easiest hole on the course, hole six, which is a driveable par four.

“I hit a three wood and blew it right, into the bunker,” he said after his round. “I was trying to play to the centre of the green thirty feet away but I hit it a little hot, went over the green and couldn’t make the up and down.”

“The greens are really slopey and challenging,” he said when asked about the course. “I think they are the biggest defence of this golf course but I managed to place myself on the greens and put myself in good spots. That gave me a lot of birdie looks, and that’s all I can do,“ he added.

“I just played solid, hit a lot of fairways, hit a lot of greens, luckily the putts dropped today and hopefully they will keep dropping for the next few days. There are a lot of tough pins out here. You don’t have to chase every pin, and if I can just give myself looks then I’ll do OK,” he said.

In fourth place, Yu-cheng Ho (66) of Chinese Taipei leads Charles Porter (66) of the USA by a single shot, with Tawit Polthai (67) of Thailand, winner of the PKNS Selangor Masters in January, one shot further back.

Finlay Mason of England pictured in action at the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament at Damai Indah’s Bumi Serpong Damai course.

Finlay Mason of England is making his debut in Indonesia and showed he’s a fast learner after turning yesterday’s 71 into an early low round of the day today with a nine birdie, one bogey 64.

“I got off to a really hot start,” he said after making it to the clubhouse. “I was four under through five to get my day started and then birdied 18 which was my ninth hole so I was six under through nine.

“Unfortunately I made a three putt on my 10th hole and kind of stalled out a little bit, but I picked up a couple coming home, which was nice,” he added.

Making his fifth start on the ADT, Mason revealed he’s been getting some inside tips from his caddy, a former student of his at Kennesaw University when he was a college coach in the USA between stints as a touring professional.

Meva Schmit, who hails from Bali, has recently turned professional after securing spots on the China LPGA Tour and the WPGA Tour Australasia. And as a former Indonesia Junior Amateur champion and national team player, she’s well-placed to pass on some local knowledge.

“It’s been pretty funny,” said Mason after his round. “At Kennesaw I probably caddied for her for 50% of her rounds so it’s a complete role reversal.

“She’s been great, it’s been good to catch up. I haven’t seen her for a couple of years and she’s been showing me the ropes, what to eat and what to avoid,” he added.

Mason is joined in seventh place on nine under par by a strong group, which includes Pakistan’s Ahmad Baig (67) and Gabriele De Barba (66) of Italy, both winners already this season – Baig in Pakistan and De Barba in Taiwan.

Their leaderboard position also includes India’s Khalin Joshi, who pipped Mason for the low round with a 10 birdie, one bogey 63, England’s Ben Jones (66) and the Thai trio of Kosuke Hamamoto (69), Sarut Vongchaisit (67) and Waris Manthorn (66).

Main picture: Marcus Lim of Malaysia pictured in action at the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament at Damai Indah’s Bumi Serpong Damai course.

Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit leader Aidric Chan will be aiming to pick up where he left off at this week’s Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament, which marks its landmark 10th anniversary with a bumper prize fund of USD150,000.

Having won his second title of the 2025 ADT season in Morocco in June, the fast-rising Filipino is in confident mood as he prepares for his second professional appearance in Indonesia at Damai Indah’s Jack Nicklaus-designed Bumi Serpong Damai (BSD) Course. A third victory will earn him an automatic and immediate ‘battlefield’ promotion to the Asian Tour.

“I’m definitely aiming for the top spot! I have more confidence in my game now and I want to be a bit more aggressive, so I can get the three-win ADT exemption onto the Asian Tour this year and join the elite list of players who have achieved the feat,” said Chan.

“I’ve played in Indonesia countless times as an amateur, but as a pro this will only be my second time after last year’s Indonesia Pro-Am. I can’t wait to see some familiar faces that I grew up playing with, like Jonathan Wijono,” he added.

Chan joined the paid ranks in early 2024 following four seasons on the U.S. collegiate circuit, playing for the University of Arizona ‘Wildcats’. He had a solid but rather quiet start to his professional career, finishing 14th on the Philippines Golf Tour money list and playing in five ADT events, highlighted by a T2 finish at the BRG Open in Vietnam.

2025 has been anything but quiet for the genial young golfer from Quezon City. In March, Chan showed his affinity for Vietnamese golf by breaking through for his maiden international professional title at the ADT’s Lexus Challenge at The Bluffs Grand Ho Tram. Just a few months later, he soared to the top of the ADT Order of Merit by winning the Morrocco Rising Stars Marrakech at Samanah Golf Club.

Chan credits a more focused mental approach as well as an improved overall game for his speedy climb up the golf hierarchy.

“I’m really fortunate to be in this position so early in my career. A lot has definitely been working well for me this year. The mental aspect has been good, on and off the course. It helps not having any distractions and just really having the focus to succeed,” noted Chan.

“My driver has been really consistent this season and it’s one of the clubs in the bag that people call me out for, along with my putter that has definitely helped me close out those two wins. My approach shots have also been a lot better, thanks to my coach Tony Lascuña who is one of the best players from the Philippines,” he elaborated.

Chan names the legendary Lascuña, winner of more than 30 professional titles including the ADT’s 2014 Aboitiz Invitational, as the biggest influence on his golf career. “Tony has helped me understand my game completely and adapt to scenarios that have allowed me to play my best golf.”

All in all, Chan is enjoying the challenges that come with being a professional golfer.

“Definitely part of the dream! Being on the ADT is a huge opportunity for me and has given me so much confidence, as I get ready for a higher level of competition. There are a lot of talented players in the field and everyone is hungry to win, so staying competitive week in week out is one of the most challenging things on tour,” shared Chan.

Progressing to the Asian Tour is something that Chan says, makes his heart “pump with excitement.”

“I’ve been eying this since I turned pro last year! Thankfully, I was able to capitalize on the opportunities I had, like my first ADT start last year and my first Asian Tour event this year, where I finished second and eighth respectively,” he said.

Marking the tour’s eighth stop and maiden visit to Indonesia this season, the 2025 Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament will feature a field of 150 players made up of 82 from the ADT, 40 from the PGA Tour of Indonesia, and 28 invitations.

Apart from Chan, players to look out for include Thailand’s Itthipat Buranatanyarat, the 2024 ADT Order of Merit winner, along with this year’s ADT winners Tawit Polthai and Suradit Yongcharoenchai of Thailand, Ahmad Baig of Pakistan, Gabriele De Barba of Italy and another young Filipino, Carl Jano Corpus.

2019 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand and reigning Mandiri Indonesia Open champion Steve Lewton of England are also in the mix. Lewton won the national Open last year at Damai Indah’s Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK) course.

The Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament is the ADT’s longest-running event and has been played at Damai Indah’s BSD Course since the inaugural 2014 edition, when Scotland’s James Byrne won by three shots.

Almost exactly a year ago, Chinese Taipei’s Liu Yung-hua triumphed by two shots with a 22-under-par total, and is back to defend his title. Prominent past champions include Korean star and three-time PGA Tour winner Tom Kim, who won in 2019 following a playoff with Singapore veteran Mardan Mamat.

While the Asian Development Tour (ADT) stays in Morocco this week for the second of two Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech events, the players will face a vastly different challenge at Al Maaden Golf Resort.

Having battled for four days at the desert-themed Samanah Golf Club, they will have to adapt to a Moroccan garden-styled layout at Al Maaden just 20 kilometres away. Both courses are set against one of the most spectacular backdrops in world golf – the snow-capped peaks of the Atlas Mountains.

Nicolas Barraud, General Manager of Al Maaden, noted that the Kyle Philips-designed layout is a “fun and unique golf course to play.”

“The fairways are wide, making it accessible for all levels, but it still offers a good challenge for experienced players. Kyle Phillips brought his signature style while blending it with a Moroccan identity. You really feel that mix throughout the course,” said Barraud.

“While the fairways are generous, water plays a big role on several holes, making shot placement crucial. Some fairway bunkers can be especially tricky and force you to think carefully about your landing zones,” he elaborated.

There will be a lot to play for this week as the players vie to finish among the top two in a special money list for the back-to-back Moroccan ADT events, and earn starts in the following week’s US$2 million International Series Morocco at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in the capital city of Rabat. With Al Maaden’s 18th hole set up to provide a grandstand finish with its risk-for-reward design, fans can expect a fair amount of thrills and spills at the par-five closer.

Barraud explained: “Many players try to reach the green in two by cutting across the water, but it’s riskier than it looks. The large central bunker, designed as a tribute to the Saadian Tombs, makes this hole both a strategic and aesthetic highlight.”

In between shots, players will be able to enjoy artistic respite in 12 contemporary sculptures. “The most striking feature here is the presence of contemporary art in 12 monumental sculptures, created by artists specifically for the course. This is a reflection of the art-loving spirit of the family behind Al Maaden, who also founded the Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden in Marrakech,” Barraud revealed.

Another unique element of the Al Maaden course is the rectangular shape of its water hazards, inspired by the iconic pool of the Menara Gardens in Marrakech.

“Together, the art, water and landscape create a golfing experience that’s both visually captivating and architecturally thoughtful,” Barraud concluded.

The desert-themed Samanah Golf Club, venue of the first event in the Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech.

If the first Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech event at Samanah is anything to go by, fans will be in for another thrilling week of golf. Samanah’s Nicklaus Design course held up well against the onslaught of the ADT talents and a large Moroccan contingent, while rewarding good play. Bearing testament to the layout’s championship pedigree, the cream eventually rose to the top and Filipino Aidric Chan’s impressive 18-under-par total made him a worthy winner indeed.

Samanah’s General Manager, Adyl Sayagh, noted that strategic play – as demonstrated to near-perfection by Chan – is the key to low scores.

“While the fairways may appear generous off the tee, precise shot placement is essential to navigate the strategically-placed bunkers and find the well-protected greens. With subtle elevation changes and large undulating greens, players need to think their way around the course rather than rely on power alone,” said Sayagh.

Sayagh emphasized that the Samanah course strikes a subtle balance between the site’s natural beauty and architectural precision. “The desert-style landscaping, uninterrupted views of the mountains, and immaculate conditioning all year round create an exceptional experience,” he stressed.

Several holes at Samanah stand out, including the last two which had a huge impact on the outcome of the tournament. Under pressure from the chasing pack, Chan had to make two gutsy pars to seal the win.

“Hole 17 is a beautifully-framed par-three with water guarding the front, and requires pinpoint accuracy especially when the wind is up. The final hole is a dramatic par-four offering a true risk-reward scenario. With the clubhouse in view and water in play, it’s a thrilling end to the round and often decides the match,” Sayagh pointed out.

Marking the ADT’s first-ever stop in the African continent, the Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech double-header is jointly sanctioned by the Arab Golf Federation and staged in collaboration with the Hassan II Golf Trophy Association and the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation.

Main picture: View of the Moroccan garden-styled Al Maaden Golf Club, venue of the second event in the Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech.

An unforgettable experience awaits the players of the Asian Development Tour (ADT) when the region’s leading developmental circuit visits the northern African nation of Morocco this week.

Two Moroccan Rising Stars Marrakech events will debut consecutively in Marrakech, dubbed the ‘Red City’ for the ochre hue of its sandstone buildings, each offering a handsome purse of US$125,000. The first event tees off this week at Marrakech Samanah Golf Club (June 19-22), followed by a three-day break before the second event at Marrakech Al Maaden Golf Resort (June 26-29).

Jointly sanctioned by the Arab Golf Federation and staged in collaboration with the Hassan II Golf Trophy Association and the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation, the back-to-back events mark a major milestone for the ADT as the circuit’s first-ever stop in the African continent. The top two players in an aggregate money list will earn spots in the Asian Tour’s US$2 million International Series Morocco, which takes place at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in the Moroccan capital of Rabat from July 3-6.

Leading Moroccan professional Ayoub Lguirati was brimming over with excitement to see his fellow-ADT combatants gear up to do battle in his country.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to have the ADT in Morocco with the two Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech events. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase Moroccan golf to a broader audience and inspire more people in the region to take up the game. It will also provide our local players with valuable exposure and experience competing at a high level,” said the 31-year-old, a regular on the ADT since 2023.

“Playing on the ADT has been an incredible experience. It’s competitive, yet there’s a sense of camaraderie among players. The opportunity to travel, meet golfers from around the world, and play on diverse courses has been invaluable to my growth as a professional,” he added.

Lguirati shared some insights into the two venues, Samanah and Al Maaden, crafted by Nicklaus Design and Kyle Phillips respectively. “Both courses are challenging but in different ways. At Samanah, precision is key as the desert-style layout demands accuracy off the tee. Al Maaden, on the other hand, requires excellent short-game skills due to its strategic design and tricky greens.”

Ayoub Lguirati of Morocco – looking forward to welcoming fellow Asian Development Tour professionals on the Tour’s first visit to the African continent.

The field of 132 at Samanah includes 30 Moroccan players consisting of 12 professionals and 18 amateurs. Lguirati and Soufiane Dahmane earned their starts through the ADT’s country exemptions, while the rest got in as regional exemptions (25 players) and tournament invitations (three players). The local players will be up against a strong international contingent, including 2025 ADT winners Gabriele De Barba of Italy, Suradit Yongcharoenchai of Thailand, Aidric Chan of the Philippines and Pakistani Ahmad Baig, as well as Asian Tour stalwarts Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh and Berry Henson of the United States.

Lguirati noted that the events will help spur golf’s growth in Morocco, where the game has already taken strong root. “We have a solid foundation, thanks to the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation’s efforts. Promising amateurs like Adam Bresnu and Hugo Trommetter are showing great potential, and I believe they will represent Morocco on the international stage soon,” he said.

Off the golf course, Lguirati hopes that the players will find time to take in the exotic sights, sounds and tastes of Marrakech. “Marrakech is a vibrant city with so much to offer. I would highly recommend visiting Jemaa el-Fnaa, the Medina, and the Majorelle Garden. For something unique, a trip to the Atlas Mountains can be a memorable experience. Moroccan cuisine is world-renowned, and players should definitely try dishes like tagine, couscous and pastilla. Msemen, which is a Moroccan pancake, with honey or mint tea is a must!”

Having mustered a best ADT finish of joint fourth at the Toyota Tour Championship in Malaysia last November, Lguirati is hungry for his first title – and where better to achieve that feat than on home soil. “Winning an ADT event in Morocco would mean everything to me. It would be a dream come true to achieve this milestone in front of my home crowd, representing my country!”

Ken Kudo, General Manager of the ADT, lauded the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation for their vision and commitment. “It has been a privilege and an honour indeed to collaborate with the dedicated folk at the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation, whose foresight and dedication to the growth of golf have been key to bringing the two Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech events to fruition. We are extremely grateful for this opportunity to bring our tour to the beautiful nation of Morocco. I would also like to thank the Arab Golf Federation for their partnership and look forward to greater cooperation in the future.”