Asian Development Tour (ADT) players can look forward to a bumper end-of-season bonanza.

Making a welcome return to the schedule after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Taifong Open will act as the decisive, final event on the 2022 ADT.

With the leading 10 players, not otherwise exempted, on the final 2022 ADT Order of Merit following the conclusion of the Taifong Open earning their Asian Tour cards for the 2023 season, it promises to be a memorable week in Chinese Taipei.

Further good news for participants at the Taifong Golf Club from December 22-25 is that the prize fund is being increased by 25 per cent to US$200,000, becoming the joint richest event on the ADT.

When the tournament was last staged on the ADT at the end of 2019, the purse was US$160,000.

Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and CEO, Asian Tour, said: “Given that the Taifong Open will once more bring down the curtain on the ADT season, it’s a fabulous development that we’ll have a significant rise in prize money.

2019 Taifong Open winner Donlaphatchai Niyomchon.

“With Asian Tour cards on the line and so much at stake, it’s fitting that the Taifong Open will offer the equal highest purse on the Tour, reflecting the importance of the week.”

When the Taifong Open was last held on the Asian Development Tour in the final week of 2019 it was Thai Donlaphatchai Niyomchon who emerged triumphant.

It was the sixth year in succession that the Taifong Open had been part of the ADT.

Previous winners of the Taifong Open were Chinese Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang (2018 and 2014); Thai Pannakorn Uthaipas (2017); American Johannes Veerman (2016) and Thai Rattanon Wannasrichan (2015).

Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai sensationally made it three wins within a month in Indonesia on the ADT when he triumphed in the US$100,000 Combiphar Players Championship, at Parahyangan Golf, in September.

He tops the Order of Merit and his three brilliant victories meant he earned a battlefield promotion on to the Asian Tour for the remainder of this season.

Three events remain this season: the Selangor Masters, the Saudi Open and the Taifong Open.

The Asian Development Tour (ADT) is set to make its eagerly awaited return to Malaysia this season, following a break of three years, for the Selangor Masters.

The popular event will be held at the highly rated Seri Selangor Golf Club from November 23 to 26 (Wednesday to Saturday) and will offer an overall purse of US$150,000 – making it one of the most lucrative ADT tournaments this season.

The tournament, which was previously held on the Asian Tour from 2008 to 2014, will play a key role in determining the final positions on the ADT Order of Merit, with players vying to finish inside the top-10 to earn playing rights on the Asian Tour in 2023.

Jointly sanctioned with Asian Tour’s long-time partner Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour, the Selangor Masters will feature a 144-man field consisting of 98 players from the ADT and 40 players from the PGM, along with six sponsor invitations.

It will also be the first international golf tournament to be held in Malaysia since the Malaysia Open, which was the last event to be held on the Asian Tour in March 2020 before the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The last ADT event in Malaysia, a country that used to host multiple ADT events in previous years, was held in November 2019 and won by Thailand’s Nirun Sae-Ueng.

The Selangor Masters has celebrated many worthy champions in Ben Leong (2008), the only Malaysian to have won an Asian Tour event in Malaysia, Australian Rick Kulacz (2009), Angelo Que (2010) of the Philippines and Joonas Granberg (2011) of Finland.

Thai trio Thaworn Wiratchant (2012), main picture, Pariya Junhasavasdikul (2013) and Chapchai Nirat (2014), who emerged victorious in a play-off to end a five-year title drought for his fourth win on Tour, claimed the last three editions of the Selangor Masters.

The Selangor Masters will mark the 14th leg of the current ADT season which celebrated the rise of Order of Merit leader Suteepat Prateeptienchai, who spectacularly won three titles to earn playing rights for the remainder of the current season on the Asian Tour.

The 29-year-old is attempting to become the third player from Thailand to lift the Order of Merit crown following Pavit Tangkamolprasert (2014) and Pannakorn Uthaipas (2017) since the ADT was inaugurated in 2010.

The ADT is set to stage a minimum of 14 tournaments this year across seven countries – Chinese Taipei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Vietnam.

Ends.

Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai sensationally made it three wins within a month in Indonesia on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) when he triumphed in the US$100,000 Combiphar Players Championship, at Parahyangan Golf.

His three brilliant victories means he earns a battlefield promotion on to the Asian Tour for the remainder of this season.

He came from two shots behind overnight leader Chonlatit Chuenboonngam to beat his compatriot by two shots.

Suteepat carded a four-under-par 68 for a winning total of 15 under par, while Chonlatit returned a 72.

Australian Kade McBride finished in outright third place three behind the winner after also closing with a 72.

Suteepat quickly took control of the tournament on the final day by going out in three under with birdies on two, five and seven, while Chonlatit went in the other direction by dropping shots to make the turn in three over. A one under back nine proved good enough for Suteepat to hold off a late charge from Chonlatit who rallied with birdies on 13, 15 and 17.

Said Suteepat: “I didn’t think about the score after nine holes. My driver, tee shots, were the key, but it was difficult, pin positions were tough. I am so happy to make it through and win again, I can’t describe the feeling.”

The victory means he moves to the top of the ADT Order of Merit, with Chonlatit slipping back into second.

At the end of August Suteepat claimed the BNI Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament and just last week that OB Golf Invitational presented by Jababeka.

This week was the 13^th event of the ADT season, which will see the top-10 players from the Final ADT Order of Merit secure right of passage onto the Asian Tour next year.

Thailand’s Chonlatit Chuenboonngam, the Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit leader, staked his claim for a second victory this season by posting a five-under-par 67 to take the third-round lead in the US$100,000 Combiphar Players Championship.

Six birdies and just one dropped shot saw him move to 13 under par at Parahyangan Golf, for a one-shot advantage over Kade McBride from Australia, who carded a 68.

Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai, the overnight leader, fired a 70 and is one stroke further behind – in what is the 13^th stop on this year’s ADT and the sixth and final visit of the year to Indonesia.

“I putted really well today, compared with yesterday and the first day,” said Chonlatit.

“It’s a tough course! The pin positions are difficult but at least the greens are soft so you can stop the ball. I found all the par fives in two and two putted.”

Chonlatit won The 2nd Gunung Geulis Golf Invitational supported by Nomura in August for his maiden ADT win and has also amassed four other top-10s, including a joint runner-up finish in the Blue Canyon Open.

McBride eagled the par-five second to make his move and while he was able to make four birdies later on, he did make two bogeys.

Suteepat, who sits in third place on the Order of Merit following two victories in Indonesia over the last one month, was on course to stay out in front but made double on the par-four 13^th, which were his only dropped shots of the day.

He won the BNI Ciputra Golfpreneur in August, and the following month the OB Golf Invitational Jababeka.

Thailand’s Chanat Sakulpolphaisan is in solo fourth, three behind the leader, after a 69, one ahead of countryman Denwit Boriboonsub, in with a 73.

With the season starting to draw to a conclusion, the pressure is mounting as the top-10 on the Final Order of Merit earn playing rights on the Asian Tour in 2023.

Thai talent Suteepat Prateeptienchai propelled to the top of the leaderboard after firing a second-round seven-under-par 65 to grab the clubhouse lead on nine-under-par 135 total at the weather-disrupted Combiphar Players Championship on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old Thai, who opened his campaign with a 70, fired two eagles in five holes and nailed four birdies against a bogey to put himself in prime position to chase for a third consecutive victory in his last three starts on the Asian Development Tour (ADT).

Suteepat, who sits in third place on the Order of Merit following two victories in Indonesia over the last one month, holds a one-shot advantage over compatriot and Order of Merit leader Chonlatit Chuenboonngam, who returned a 66, in the US$100,000 ADT event held at the Parahyangan Golf.

Denwit Boriboonsub, also of Thailand, lurked one shot off the pace after posting a sizzling front-nine 30 which saw him notch six birdies, including four in-a-row from the sixth. He will be among the 57 players who will return to complete their rounds at 6.15am local time on Thursday.

The second round of the Combiphar Players Championship was suspended at 12.30pm local time due to lightning threats before resuming two hours later. The halfway cut is projected to be at two-over-par 146 with players inside top-50 and ties progressing into the next two rounds.

The Combiphar Players Championship is the ADT’s sixth and final stop in Indonesia this season. With a prize money of US$100,000 on offer, players will have everything to play for as they aim to finish inside top-10 on the final Order of Merit to earn playing rights on the Asian Tour in 2023.

Ends.

Indonesia’s Jonathan Wijono set a blistering pace at the start of the Combiphar Players Championship in Bandung today, posting a six-under-par 66 to establish a two shot lead after an early start and only a double bogey at his last hole prevented him opening an even bigger lead.

He was joined at the top by Thailand’s Suttijet Kooratanapisan during a weather-disrupted afternoon at the US$100,000 Asian Development Tour event, which is being held at Parahyangan Golf Club in Bandung from September 20-23.

“My game today was very good,” said Wijono after his round. “I’ve been playing really solid so far in practice and my goal is to maintain this level for the week. A few mistakes but I think today was very solid.”

“I was going well until I made a double bogey on nine. Second shot I hit it a bit too hard and the ball went in the bunker, that was one of the mistakes, but overall today was very solid, I’m very happy,” he added.

Kade McBride of Australia. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OB Golf

The threat of lightning forced a two-hour weather delay during the afternoon and play was stopped due to failing light at 5.40pm. Suttijet has six holes to complete his round when play restarts at 6.15am tomorrow. Six groups on each nine still have to complete their rounds, and Round Two will start at 7am.

Indonesia’s Joshua Andrew Wirawan leads a group in third place on four under par, together with Australia’s Kade McBride and Chanat Sakulpolphaisan of Thailand. The three players were part of the morning wave and were able to complete their rounds without incident and posted a score of 68.

In sixth place on three under par, Malaysia’s Ervin Chang, Shinichi Mizuno of Japan and England’s Joshua Grenville-Wood posted early scores of 69, together with Tawit Polthai of Thailand and Indonesia’s Benita Kasiadi.

Ervin Chang of Malaysia. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OB Golf

They were joined later in the day by Malaysia’s Shahriffuddin Ariffin and Pannakorn Uthaipas of Thailand who made a promising start in the afternoon wave before progress was halted by the weather. They will resume in the morning with three holes to play.

Thailand’s Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij also sits in sixth with one hole to complete his first round, followed by Harrison Gilbert of Australia who has another six holes to go.

Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai held a slender lead in a tense finish to the OB Golf Invitational, presented by Jababeka, edging Malaysia’s Ervin Chang by a single shot to win the US$70,000 Asian Development Tour event.

At the start of the day the leader Suteepat was one in front of Chang, who was four ahead of the remaining pack, meaning the contest was essentially theirs and theirs alone at the Jababeka Golf and Country Club. They matched blows on virtually every hole, both finishing with a score of 66.

Suteepat, who also won the BNI Ciputra Golfpreneur tournament last month, said he was comfortable playing in Indonesia with two victories, and said his consistency in the early rounds was essential to hold off the hard-charging Chang.

“The first two rounds were so good, they were the key to being champion,” he said after the round.

“Playing well with the driver was key, as the setup here was more difficult (compared to BSD).”

Malaysia’s Ervin Chang, edged by a single stroke. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OB Golf

Chang had the worst of openings with a bogey on the first hole, dropping him one shot further back.

The pair shared pars and then a birdie through the next four holes before the Malaysian was able to claw one back on the sixth hole.

Finally on the par-five 14th hole Chang’s eagle bested Suteepat’s birdie, putting the pair on level footing with four holes to play. The drama did not last for long though as the Thai player snatched back the advantage on the very next hole and was able to maintain his lead to the finish.

Eventually finishing six shots clear of their nearest challenger, the tussle for the remaining places was won by Thailand’s Chonlatit Chuenboonngam (68), claiming third with a 12-under-par score of 268.

Indonesia’s Jonathan Wijono put up something of a fight, only a late bogey forcing him into fourth place, while Jeremy Wendelken of the USA traded birdies and bogeys to finish with 69 and a solo fifth.

Lloyd Jefferson Go of the Philippines celebrates his lone birdie on the 18th green, his first after a string of 17 pars. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OB Golf

Sixth place was shared by the Thai pair of Chanat Sakulpolphaisan (68) and Piya Sawangarunporn (68), who came slightly unstuck on the back nine and dropping three shots. The group was completed by Lloyd Jefferson Go (69) of the Philippines, who posted a steady stream of pars for 17 holes before finally picking up a stroke on the last.

Kade McBride (70) of Australia and Sarun Sirithon of Thailand rounded out the top ten, sharing ninth place to finish with a combined score for the tournament of 263.

Round of the day, and the tournament, went to Thailand’s Tawit Polthai, who started the day at three over without breaking par for the first three rounds. He finally managed to unlock the secrets of the course on the final day, posting a fine 61 with a score marred only by a single bogey on the 16th hole.

Ervin Chang made a strong comeback push in the third round of the OB Golf Invitational, presented by Jababeka today, making up ground on Suteepat Prateeptienchai of Thailand who leads by just one shot going into the final day.

Trailing by three shots at the start of play, Chang was swiftly into the mix against Suteepat, making the first birdie and drawing level by the turn. He briefly took the lead on the back nine but Suteepat (67) picked up three shots on the run in to edge back into the lead at 15-under-par.

Ervin Chang of Malaysia. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OB Golf

Chang (65), who led the US$70,000 Asian Development Tour event after the first round, was pleased with his recovery around the testing Jababeka Golf & Country Club course and posted another bogey-free score.

“I started off really well,” said the 24-year-old Malaysian. “I missed a couple of birdie putts but I’m really happy with my performance today. There were a couple of mistakes towards the end but I recovered well and I’ve given myself a good opportunity for tomorrow.

“Yesterday the wind was a little stronger in the afternoon, which made the course a bit tougher. That affected some of the decisions I made but I hung in there well and managed to come back with one under so I wasn’t too disappointed.

“Today was similar to the first round but I wasn’t making as many putts. None of the pin positions were easy. If you hit it too long you can go 20 or 30 feet past so you have to get the ball in the right position to give yourself a good look at birdie.”

Chonlatit Chuenboonngam of Thailand. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OB Golf

Thailand’s Chonlatit Chuenboonngam, who began the day in sixth place, made significant strides up the leaderboard. His five-under-par score of 65 moved him into solo third place, albeit still five shots off the lead. His compatriot Sarun Sirithon (64) posted the low round of the day and sits in fourth spot, a position he shares with Jeremy Wendelken (66) of the USA.

Lloyd Jefferson Go continued his advance today, moving upwards with Jonathan Wijono of Indonesia from 11th place yesterday into a share of sixth with a pair of 67s. Kade McBride of Australia was going well but a couple of late bogeys left him with another score of 69 and he joined the group on seven under.

Matt Killen of England also posted a score of 69, together with Chanat Sakulpolphaisan of Thailand, the duo ending the day with a share of ninth place alongside Piya Sawangarunporn. The veteran Thai, who turns 39 in November, started the day in the final group but slipped out of contention early on.

Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai (pictured) took advantage of his early start and calmer weather in the second round of the OB Golf Invitational, presented by Jababeka, posting six birdies for 64 to take the lead on 12 under.

Compatriot Piya Sawangarunporn also advanced up the leaderboard, scoring the day’s best score with a bogey-free 63 to ease into solo second in the US$70,000 Asian Development Tour event.

First round leader Ervin Chang of Malaysia could only advance his score by one, playing in the afternoon at Jababeka Golf & Country Club when the wind picked up and left him with a one-under-par 69.

Nirun Sae-Ueng of Thailand. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OB Golf

Australia’s Kade McBride also posted a 69, reducing his overall score by one but dropped into a share of fourth place with Thailand’s Nirun Sae-Ueng (68) who was going well until his final few holes, dropping three shots in as many holes to post a total of 134.

Jeremy Wendelken (68) of the USA and Matt Killen (68) of England improved on their first round scores to move into a share of sixth place, together with Thailand’s Chanat Sakulpolphaisan (67). His compatriots Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij and Chonlatit Chuenboonngam both scored even par.

Local golfers Jonathan Wijono and Benita Kasiadi lead a group on four under par in 11th place, together with Thailand’s Pisitchai Thippong, Abdul Hadi of Singapore and Lloyd Jefferson Go of the Philippines who pegged a couple of late birdies to make ground.

Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij of Thailand. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OB Golf

China’s Chen Guxin (72) couldn’t get off the bogey train early in his round and was unable to build on his bright start in round one. He shares 16th place with Thailand’s Sarun Sirithon (70), Indonesia’s Naraajie E. Ramadhanputra (69) and Joshua Grenville-Wood of England who finished the day with even par.

Malaysia’s Ervin Chang set a blistering pace on the first day of the OB Golf Invitational presented by Jababeka on Tuesday, posting a flawless round of 62 with eight birdies to lead by two shots going into round two.

He holds the advantage over Suteepat Prateeptienchai of Thailand, who posted six birdies for a bogey free round of 64

Thailand’s Chonlatit Chuenboonngam, winner at the Gunung Geulis Golf Invitational in August, also scored well, with just a single bogey on his card for a 65 on the par 70 Jababeka Golf & Country Club course. He leads a strong group on five-under including Chen Guxin of China, Australia’s Kade McBride and the Thai duo of Suteepat Prateeptienchai and Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij, all of whom posted bogey-free scores.

Chonlatit Chuenboonngam of Thailand. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OBGolf

Chen, who has already won twice this season, heads the ADT Order of Merit, with a slim lead over Chuenboonngam, with Thailand’s Chanat Sakulpolphaisan and Prateeptienchai in close pursuit.

Chang, who has been focusing on controlling his game during the first two rounds, showed he is making progress with a run of three birdies in his first four holes in the US$70,000 Asian Development Tour event.

“It’s taken me a couple of tournaments to get into the groove and learn how to deal with the pressure for the first two rounds. But the last few tournaments, I wasn’t having a perfect start but was always around even par, or one under, which showed a bit of an improvement.

“Today I was feeling really comfortable with the way I was swinging and how the course was set up for me. I was able to recover from a couple of mistakes and was really happy with my performance.”

“I just kept trying to keep the ball in play on the fairway and give myself birdie chances. Ended up shooting eight birdies and zero bogeys which is always a good sign on the golf course,” said Chang.

Nirun Sae-Ueng of Thailand. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OBGolf

Chuenboonngam was also pleased with his performance, particularly after a disappointing practice round on Monday.

“I didn’t expect to make five under after my practice round, which wasn’t particularly good,” he said after turning in his card. “My game was good today, tee shots and irons were good, plenty of chances to make birdie.”

“The course is good, with big fairways and greens. There’s a few tough holes, the long par four and the long par three, but its just two or three holes and you can use driver on most holes because it’s easy to keep it in the fairways.”

“My key tomorrow is to keep within my game, shot to shot, and without thinking about things too much.”

Benita Kasiadi of Indonesia. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OBGolf

A group of three players lie one shot further back on 66 with a share of seventh place, led by Thailand’s Nirun Sae-Ueng, Oscar Zetterwall of Sweden and Australia’s Jack Murdoch.

In tenth place, the English pair of Matt Killen and Joshua Grenville-Wood are joined by the leading Indonesian scorer Benita Kasiadi, and the Thai quartet of Denwit Boriboonsub, Piya Sawangarunporn, Pisitchai Thippong and Sarun Sirithon. America’s Jeremy Wendelken completes the group on 67 with three birdies, the seventh bogey-free round of the day.