Much to play for at the Toyota Tour Championship at Saujana
The stakes couldn’t be higher for four Malaysian professionals – Ervin Chang, Paul San, Galven Green and Amir Nazrin – when the Toyota Tour Championship tees off at the Palm Course of the Saujana Golf & Country Club here tomorrow.
The 72-hole tournament is the final leg of the exciting Toyota Tour and is co-sanctioned by the Asian Development Tour. It carries a prize pool of RM350,000 with Saturday’s winner to receive RM61,250 (US$13,032).
Chang, San, Green and Amir are currently ranked 18th (US$13,000), 28th (US$10,424), 30th (US$9,447) and 32nd (US$9,447) respectively in the Asian Development Tour Order of Merit. An outright win would catapault any of them into the top 10 with just one more leg to go at the Saudi Aramco Invitational on Nov 29 – Dec 2. The top 10 on the ADT OOM after the Saudi Aramco will earn playing rights on the Asian Tour next season.
Deyen Lawson of Australia is the current leadre of the Asian Development Tour Order of Merit after finishing joint second in the PKNS Selangor Masters. Picture by Paul Lakatos / Asian Tour.
Leading the OOM currently is Australian Deyen Lawson who has earned US$50,381.67 so far after finishing joint second in the PKNS Selangor Masters last week. Chinese Taipei’s Ho Yu-Cheng vaulted up the OOM into second place after his one-stroke victory at Seri Selangor Golf Club. Lying 10th in the OOM is Indonesia’s Naraajie Ramadhanputra with US$19,694. Chang, the best Malaysian finisher at the Selangor Master ended up tied for 8th and is now US$6,000 behind the Indonesian.
There is a second option for Malaysians to be able to compete on the Asian Tour – by finishing among the top six in the Toyota Tour OOM. These six could get invitations to play on Asian Tour events on a country-exemption basis.
Chang, with RM131,688 is the leading money earner on the burgeoning Toyota Tour that is organised by the Professional Golf Malaysia and delivered by MST Golf Group. Lying second is Danny Chia with RM83,870, Paul San (RM83,354), Galven Green (RM70,194) and Nicholas Fung in fifth place with RM65,914.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s leading professional Ahmad Baig is looking forward to a better showing at Saujana after missing the cut last week. He practised nine holes this morning and declared that “it’s a great golf course. The drainage must be good because the fairways and rough are not soggy despite the very wet weather. The greens are in excellent condition and rolling very smooth.”
Veteran Malaysian Kemarol Baharin agreed that the course was in great condition. He said his target would be to finish among the top five and strengthen his position on the Toyota Tour OOM where he is currently in eighth spot.
A total of 71 Malaysian professionals and five amateurs will compete for the Toyota Tour Championship with 68 other international players led by Lawson and Yu-Cheng. The Par 5 13th hole and the Par 4 14th hole will play as a par four and par five respectively this week.
Golf fans are in for a treat at Saujana as there will be a mini fan zone at the clubhouse whereby Puma will be promoting its latest golf shoes while TaylorMade are organising chipping and putting competitions on the practice green.
There is no admission fee to watch the Toyota Tour Championship. Spectators will also be treated to complimentary merchandise items.
Ho Yu-Cheng of Chinese Taipei is on track to land his maiden Asian Development Tour (ADT) title as he carded a third round 66 to open up a four-shot lead at the PKNS Selangor Masters.
The 25-year-old was in superb form as he nailed four birdies in a flawless outing at the challenging Seri Selangor Golf Club, set up as a par-70 course for the USD175,000 tournament which is co-sanctioned with the domestic Toyota Tour.
Ho tops the leaderboard with a 54-hole total of six-under-par 204 (68, 70, 66), four ahead of Japan’s Naoki Sekito who signed in a solid 68. Malaysia’s Daeng Rahman lies third on even-par 210 after a third round 70.
“My driving was good today and I found most of the fairways, which allowed me to set up good birdie chances with my second shots. All my birdies were from inside nine feet,” said Ho.
“I’ll just play my own game tomorrow and try to keep to the same strategy. Let’s see how the final result is,” he added.
Playing in his rookie season on the ADT, Ho is currently in 10th place on the Order of Merit and a win would secure his Asian Tour card for 2024 as one of the top-10 in the final standings. He came close to winning in August at the BNI Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament in Indonesia, holding the 54-hole lead and eventually settling for second place.
“This is my first year playing on the ADT and it’s been a good experience. I’ve learnt a lot from playing in the ADT tournaments,” noted Ho, who has won multiple times on his domestic circuit.
Three-time ADT winner Sekito, 26, relied on a sharp short game to keep himself in the hunt.
Japan’s Naoki Sekito pictured in action at the 2023 PKNS Selangor Masters. Picture courtesy of PKNS Selangor Masters
“You can lose a lot of shots easily on this golf course, so although I may be four shots back, I’m still in a good position. If I keep playing like I have the past two days, I think I have a chance to win,” said Sekito, who won the OB Golf Championship in Indonesia in late September for his third ADT title.
Second round leader Rory Hie fell back with a round of 77 and is eight shots off the pace. However, the popular Indonesian ace believes he still has a chance if he posts a low score tomorrow.
“I feel like I didn’t play that badly today. It’s just that kind of course where it’s so easy to make mistakes. It was one of those days that you know you’re going to have,” said Hie.
“I still feel like I have a chance if I shoot anywhere around five-under tomorrow. Anything can happen on this golf course, so we’ll see how it goes,” added the 35-year-old, who has one Asian Tour title to his name at the 2019 Classic Golf and Country Club International Championship in India.
Daeng was satisfied with his consistent play so far with rounds of 71, 69 and 70, putting him in contention for his first ADT victory.
“I’m quite happy with the results, although it could have been better. My putting hasn’t really been on point, and I missed a lot of short putts for birdie,” said the 23-year-old.
Daeng has won four times on the Toyota Tour, including the 2015 Danau Closed as a 15-year-old amateur and this year’s Camry Cup. He credited swing changes made under the guidance of former LPGA Tour player Lim Siew Ai, now an elite coach, for his return to form after a poor start to the year.
Malaysia’s Daeng Rahman pictured in action at the 2023 PKNS Selangor Masters. Picture courtesy of PKNS Selangor Masters
“I started the year really badly and was struggling with my swing and confidence. I made a lot of changes to my game and the last few tournaments have been positive for me, and I’m getting my confidence back. Siew Ai helped a lot,” said Daeng,
Malaysia’s rising star Ervin Chang kept up his daily improvement with a superb, bogey-free 66. The 25-year-old is in tied fourth position on one-over par 211 (76, 69, 66) with the Thai duo of Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij and Poosit Supupramai, the first round leader.
“I’m playing better each day, although I’m still struggling with my tee shots. Today I was hitting my irons and wedges well, and my putting was superb. I just felt good out there and I made some really good par saves. Hopefully I can continue to do that,” said Chang, who turned professional in 2022 and has chalked up one pro win at this year’s Mirai Cup on the Toyota Tour.
Currently in 27th position on the ADT Order of Merit, Chang will be gunning for a strong finish tomorrow but noted that he will have to stay patient.
“There’s always a chance to go low but Seri Selangor is a course where anything can happen. You can play here a thousand times and it still challenges you. You just have to be patient out there,” said Chang.
Daeng and Chang will have extra incentive as the organizers will be awarding the best Malaysian finisher with an additional RM10,000 on top of the tournament prize money.
Malaysian number one Gavin Green was among those who missed the halfway cut of six-over-par following the conclusion of the second round this morning, adding a 79 to his opening 69. A total of 13 Malaysians progressed to the final 36 holes.
The final round commences at 7.22am tomorrow with the leader flight of Ho, Sekito and Daeng teeing off at 8.50am.
The PKNS Selangor Masters is the first stop of the closing three-event stretch on this year’s ADT and is also the penultimate tournament of the 2023 Toyota Tour. With the lucrative prize money on offer, the tournament will play a pivotal role in determining the top 10 players on the ADT’s final Order of Merit who will earn Asian Tour cards for 2024.
Since its inception in 2007, the Selangor Masters has seen two Malaysian winners in Ben Leong, who won the second edition in 2008, and Shahriffuddin Ariffin who was triumphant last year. Both Leong and Shahriffuddin are competing in this week’s Hong Kong Open on the Asian Tour.
The Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) is the title sponsor for the second year running, while the event promoter is PKNS Golf Management Services Sdn Bhd.
Crafted by Australian architect Ross Watson, the Seri Selangor course opened for play in 1998 as Malaysia’s first genuine public facility and provides an enthralling golf experience with its strategic design and speedy greens.
Main picture: Ho Yu-cheng of Chinese Taipei pictured in action at the 2023 PKNS Selangor Masters. Picture courtesy of PKNS Selangor Masters
A resurgent Rory Hie of Indonesia has credited chicken tandoori dinners for his superb performance in the USD175,000 PKNS Selangor Masters, after adding a second round 67 to his opening 68 to take the 36-hole clubhouse lead at Seri Selangor Golf Club.
The 35-year-old sits atop the leaderboard of the joint Asian Development Tour (ADT) and domestic Toyota Tour event with a five-under-par 135 total, two shots ahead of local surprise package Muhammad Danial Faidz. Seri Selangor is set up to par-70 this week, with the par-five 5th and par-five 18th holes converted to par-fours.
“Before the first round I ate tandoori chicken and I had the same dinner yesterday, so I’m just going to keep eating tandoori chicken for dinner! It’s at the nasi kandar shop opposite my hotel, which is just across the street from the golf club,” bellowed an elated Hie.
With inclement weather curtailing play at 4.26pm yesterday, half of the 144-player field had to head out early this morning to complete Round 1. When fading light stopped play at 6.40pm today, 65 golfers had yet to complete their second rounds. Round 2 will resume at 7.15am tomorrow, with Round 3 commencing not before 10.30am.
Hie had to finish nine holes of his first round this morning, playing an energy-sapping total of 27 holes today. Unperturbed, he snared an eagle and two birdies against just one bogey in his second 18 to surge up the leaderboard. Hie’s eagle came at the par-five 6th hole, where he also made three early in his opening round yesterday.
“Yesterday I hit a 3-iron from 225 yards to about 20 feet and made the putt, and today I hit the exact same shot straight over the flag and sank a 12-footer for eagle.
“It’s kind of weird how this game is! Last week I was hitting it really bad during a casual round, and then something clicked just before the first round here. I hit it well in both rounds and my short game was good, my putting was good, so overall I’m really happy,” said Hie, who won the 2019 Classic Golf and Country Club International Championship in India for his sole Asian Tour title.
Hie enthused that he loved the tight, tree-lined Seri Selangor layout for the way it challenged every aspect of the game. The last time he played the course was during the 2014 Selangor Masters, when he finished tied 21st.
“I love this golf course! I just like the way Seri Selangor challenges every aspect of your game including your course management, so all around it’s a really superb golf course,” said Hie.
Muhammad Danial Faidz of Malaysia pictured in action at the 2023 PKNS Selangor Masters. Picture courtesy of PKNS Selangor Masters
On an overcast day with intermittent rain, Muhammad Danial emerged as the leading Malaysian after signing in impressive rounds of 68 and 69 for a three-under-par 137 total. The 25-year-old from Ipoh benefitted from keeping things as simple as possible on the course.
“I just tried to keep it as simple as I could, just keep the ball on the fairway and avoid getting into trouble. It turned out well in these two rounds, so we’ll see how it goes the next two days. I was putting really well, and my irons were good too,” said Danial, who had to complete two holes of his first round this morning.
Still hunting for his first professional title since joining the paid ranks in 2017, Danial noted that he will take it one shot at a time over the final 36 holes.
“I’ll just enjoy the game and focus on each shot. If I have a chance to win, of course I’ll try and grab it, but it’s golf and anything can happen in the next two days. So I’ll just enjoy myself and we’ll see how it goes,” he said.
Ho Yu-Cheng of Chinese Taipei is well in the hunt on two-under-par, following up an opening 68 with an even-par 70.
“The drives here are pretty tough because the fairways are a little tight. My game is good, especially my putting, and when I missed the green, I managed to get up and down,” said the 25-year-old, whose best finish on the ADT is sole second at this year’s BNI Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament in Indonesia.
Three-time ADT winner Naoki Sekito of Japan shot a superb second round 65, 10 shots better than his opening 18, to play his way into contention on even-par 140. The 26-year-old is tied with Malaysia’s Daeng Rahman (71, 69).
“I played 28 holes today, so it was long day! In the first round, I had no idea what to do to shoot under-par on this golf course, as everything is so difficult from tee to green. I didn’t change anything for the second round, but I tried to focus on every single shot and just do my best. And suddenly it worked well,” said Sekito, whose latest ADT win came at this year’s OB Golf Championship in Indonesia.
First round leader Poosit Supupramai of Thailand was among the players who did not manage to compete their second rounds. Winner of the ADT’s 2017 Defence Raya Golf Championship in Pakistan, the 30-year-old is plus-one for the day and four-under-par overall after 12 holes.
Malaysian number one Gavin Green had a torrid time and was eight-over-par for the day after 15 holes, due largely to a quadruple bogey eight at the second hole when his drive went just out of bounds. The 2017 Asian Tour number one is one shot below the projected cutline of six-over-par.
The PKNS Selangor Masters is the first stop of the closing three-event stretch on this year’s ADT and is also the penultimate tournament of the 2023 Toyota Tour. With the lucrative prize money on offer, the tournament will play a pivotal role in determining the top 10 players on the ADT’s final Order of Merit who will earn Asian Tour cards for 2024.
The organizers will be awarding the best Malaysian finisher this week with an additional RM10,000 on top of the tournament prize money.
Since its inception in 2007, the Selangor Masters has seen two Malaysian winners in Ben Leong, who won the second edition in 2008, and Shahriffuddin Ariffin who was triumphant last year. Both Leong and Shahriffuddin are competing in this week’s Hong Kong Open on the Asian Tour.
The Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) returns as title sponsor for the second year running, while the event promoter is PKNS Golf Management Services Sdn Bhd which is a full subsidiary of PKNS.
Crafted by Australian architect Ross Watson, the Seri Selangor course opened for play in 1998 as Malaysia’s first genuine public facility and provides an enthralling golf experience with its strategic design and speedy greens.
Thailand’s Poosit Supupramai carded a superb five-under-par 65 to take the clubhouse lead following the rain-interrupted opening round of the USD175,000 PKNS Selangor Masters at Seri Selangor Golf Club.
Chasing his second Asian Development Tour (ADT) title, Poosit was in superb form as he fired six birdies – five of which came in a scintillating back nine of 30 – against one bogey at the strategically challenging Seri Selangor layout. Seri Selangor is playing as a par-70 course this week, with the par-five fifth and par-five 18th holes converted to par-fours for the tournament.
Joint 26th in this event at the same venue last year, Poosit tops the leaderboard by one shot from compatriot Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij.
“I played well today. I made bogey on the first hole after missing the fairway, but after that my driver started working and I was also hitting my irons well,” said Poosit, who won the 2017 Defence Raya Golf Championship in Pakistan for his maiden ADT title.
“Most of my birdie putts were not long, around 10 feet, and I almost holed my second shot at the 11th hole. I hope I can play like today and keep the ball on the fairway all the way to the weekend,” added the 30-year-old.
Starting on the 10th hole, Varanyu raked in six birdies including three in a row from Holes 6 to 8, but dropped shots on two holes for a round of 66. The 26-year-old blamed his short game for not being able to post a lower score.
Thailand’s Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij pictured in action during the first round of the PKNS Selangor Masters at Kelab Golf Seri Selangor on November 8, 2023. Photo courtesy of PKNS Selangor Masters.
“I was hitting it well off the tee and putting myself in the correct spots. But my chipping was not so good, and the two bogeys came from simple mistakes.” said Varanyu, who is a three-time ADT winner.
Having finished tied 11th at the 2022 PKNS Selangor Masters, Varanyu certainly has an affinity for the Seri Selangor layout. “I like this golf course. You have to try to play safe because it is very challenging, and even a slight mistake can result in a big number,” he said.
Spearheading the Malaysian challenge in the tournament, which is co-sanctioned with the domestic Toyota Tour, is the country’s top golfer Gavin Green, a three-time ADT winner, and seasoned campaigner Kenneth De Sliva. The duo signed in matching one-under-par 69s to lie in joint third position among those who completed their rounds.
Green was not pleased with how he played, noting that he did not give himself enough birdie chances.
“I didn’t hit as many fairways as I would have liked to, and that cost me. It was just hard to judge the shots out of the rough; I expected fliers, but the ball jumped a lot more than I thought it would. My scrambling was good and my putting was decent, but it’s just not easy out there,” said the 29-year-old, who won the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2017.
The 32-year-old De Silva meanwhile was pleased with how he plotted his way around the golf course.
Malaysia’s Gavin Green lines up a putt during the first round of the PKNS Selangor Masters at Kelab Golf Seri Selangor on November 8, 2023. Photo courtesy of PKNS Selangor Masters.
“I hit a lot of greens today and, when I did miss, I missed in the right spots and managed to get up and down. I had one long birdie putt, on Hole 17 when I made a 20-footer,” said De Silva, who won the 2012 Sarawak Masters for his first and only ADT title.
De Silva noted that he owed his good start partly to a driving tip from young compatriot Ervin Chang. “I’ve been struggling with my driver recently, but Ervin gave me a swing tip yesterday and it worked well today,” he said.
Play was suspended at 4.26pm due to an impending thunderstorm and the threat of lightning, and was eventually cancelled for the day with 72 golfers yet to finish their rounds. Round 1 will resume at 7.15am tomorrow, followed by Round 2 which will not commence before 8.15am.
The PKNS Selangor Masters is the first stop of the closing three-event stretch on this year’s ADT and is also the penultimate tournament of the 2023 Toyota Tour. The tournament will play a pivotal role in determining the top 10 players on the ADT’s final Order of Merit, who will earn coveted Asian Tour cards for 2024.
The organizers will be awarding the best Malaysian finisher this week with an additional RM10,000 on top of the tournament prize money.
Since its inception in 2007, the Selangor Masters has seen two Malaysian winners in Ben Leong, who won the second edition in 2008, and Shahriffuddin Ariffin who was triumphant last year. Both Leong and Shahriffuddin are competing in this week’s Hong Kong Open on the Asian Tour.
The Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) returns as title sponsor for the second year running, while the event promoter is PKNS Golf Management Services Sdn Bhd which is a full subsidiary of PKNS.
Crafted by Australian architect Ross Watson, the Seri Selangor course opened for play in 1998 as Malaysia’s first genuine public facility and provides an enthralling golf experience with its strategic design, tree-lined fairways and speedy greens.
Main photo: Thailand’s Poosit Supupramai pictured in action during the first round of the PKNS Selangor Masters at Kelab Golf Seri Selangor on November 8, 2023. Photo courtesy of PKNS Selangor Masters.
The PKNS Selangor Masters returns to Seri Selangor Golf Club this November 8-11 with a beefed-up total purse of USD175,000, an increase of USD25,000 from last year.
One of the richest events on this year’s Asian Development Tour (ADT), the PKNS Selangor Masters will be co-sanctioned with the Toyota Tour, Malaysia’s domestic professional circuit. The Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) returns as title sponsor for the second year running, while the event promoter is PKNS Golf Management Services Sdn Bhd which is a full subsidiary of PKNS.
The field of 144 will be made up of the leading 75 available players from the ADT and 40 from the Toyota Tour, with the remaining 19 spots allocated for tournament invitations. The invited players will include the boys’ champion of the preceding week’s Selangor International Junior Golf Championship at the same venue.
The country’s top player Gavin Green will spearhead the local challenge, hoping to become the third Malaysian winner of the event after Shahriffuddin Ariffin (2022) and Ben Leong (2008).
Winner of the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2017, Green competed in the 2013 Selangor Masters at Seri Selangor as an amateur and finished as top Malaysian in tied sixth place on four-under-par 280.
“I’m really looking forward to playing in the PKNS Selangor Masters as it’s always nice to compete on home soil,” said Green, who plays on the DP World Tour (European Tour).
“Seri Selangor is definitely one of my favourite courses and hopefully I can bring my ‘A’ game and do well next week,” added the 29-year-old.
Asian Tour Commissioner & CEO Cho Minn Thant noted: “We’re delighted to confirm the PKNS Selangor Masters’ place on the ADT schedule this year, and to be partnering with the Toyota Tour. We’re thankful to the Selangor State Development Corporation for their continued support and for ensuring the PKNS Selangor Masters remains one of the richest events on the Asian Development Tour.”
The PKNS Selangor Masters returns to Seri Selangor Golf Club with a beefed-up total purse of USD175,000, an increase of USD25,000 from last year.
Launched this year, the Toyota Tour is the result of a tri-party agreement between the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour, UMW Toyota Motor as the naming partner and MST Golf as the delivery agency.
Dato‘ Mahmud bin Abbas, Chief Executive Officer of PKNS, noted: “The partnership between the PKNS Selangor Masters and the ADT provides an important avenue for professionals to progress to the regional circuits and beyond. We therefore feel it is appropriate to further elevate the stature of the tournament by increasing its purse.”
With the top-10 players on the ADT’s end-of-season Order of Merit earning promotion to the lucrative Asian Tour in 2024, the PKNS Selangor Masters as part of the crucial closing stretch will play a key role in determining who makes it through.
Mohd Zubir Idrus, the Chief Executive Officer of Seri Selangor Golf Club, lauded the return of the event.
“We are delighted to be the host venue of the PKNS Selangor Masters again. Our golf course is one of the most challenging in the country and will be in prime condition for the tournament, providing a worthy challenge for the rising stars of the region as they strive to elevate their careers,” said Mohd Zubir.
After a seven-year hiatus, the PKNS Selangor Masters made a welcome return to the regional golfing schedule last year when Malaysia’s Shahriffuddin Ariffin clinched a two-shot victory over Thailand’s Denwit Boriboonsub at Seri Selangor. One of the nation’s most talented young players, Shahriffuddin kept his nerve on an exciting final day to claim his second ADT title with a nine-under-par 275 total.
The victory helped Shahriffuddin finish fourth on the 2022 ADT Order of Merit, earning the 24-year-old playing rights on the Asian Tour for this year.
Winner of the PKNS Selangor Masters in 2022, Shahriffuddin Ariffin pictured with the winner’s trophy.
“Winning the PKNS Selangor Masters was a significant achievement for me because it was an ADT event at home here in Malaysia, and it helped me secure my Asian Tour card for 2023. The Seri Selangor course is a great layout and will be a good challenge for the professionals,” said Shahriffuddin.
Shahriffuddin was the second Malaysian to win the event, following in the footsteps of Ben Leong who fought off Thai legend Thongchai Jaidee at the second edition in 2008 when it became part of the Asian Tour.
Established as a statutory body in 1968, PKNS is the development agency for the state of Selangor and is involved in real estate development, trade development, industrial development and investment.
A project of PKNS, Seri Selangor Golf Club offers a challenging 18-hole course designed by Australian architect Ross Watson. The course opened for play in 1998 as Malaysia’s first genuine public facility and continues to provide an enthralling golf experience with its strategic design, tree-lined fairways and speedy greens.
Aramco has agreed one of the biggest and most significant partnerships in the history of the Asian Development Tour (ADT), after confirming title sponsorship of the Saudi Aramco Invitational for the next three editions, with an additional two-year option. The overall prize money will be US$250,000, making it the most lucrative event on the Tour, and establishing it as a prestigious season-ending tournament.
The 72-hole stroke play event will be held at Rolling Hills Golf Course in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, from November 29 to December 2, bringing down the curtain on the ADT’s 2023 calendar in spectacular fashion and taking total ADT prize money for the season beyond the US$1 million barrier.
Nabil Al-Nuaim, Chairman of the Saudi Aramco Golf Association (SAGA) and Aramco’s Senior Vice President of Digital and Information Technology, said: “Aramco has a history of over 75 years supporting golf in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We are proud to continue our tradition across the company and the Kingdom. We believe partnership with the Asian Development Tour is a natural fit with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and Aramco’s mission to promote sports, and particularly golf, among the youth of Saudi Arabia.”
Cho Minn Thant, the Asian Tour Commissioner and CEO, said: “This is wonderful news for the Asian Development Tour, the Asian Tour’s flourishing feeder circuit, and we are truly appreciative to Aramco for their support.
“I know that all those who play on the ADT will welcome this exciting news, which, I’m sure will motivate them to work even harder as they bid to progress their way onto the Asian Tour,” he added.
With the top 10 players on the ADT’s end-of-season Order of Merit earning promotion to the Asian Tour in 2024, the Saudi Aramco Invitational will prove decisive in determining who makes it through.
Cho added: “Where Energy is Opportunity is Aramco’s tagline. The Saudi Aramco Invitational will energise and provide opportunity for the region’s up-and-coming professionals, as well as elite amateur players. We’re grateful to Aramco for their vision and commitment to the development of golf.”
The 120-strong field for the Saudi Aramco Invitational will be made up of 70 players from the ADT, 40 players selected by Aramco and 10 invitees.
Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij of Thailand pictured in action during the OB Golf Championshp at Gunung Geulis Golf Club on September 27, 2023. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OB Golf
Thailand’s Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij triumphed in the 2022 inaugural tournament, which was also played at the Rolling Hills Golf Course.
Located in Dhahran, Rolling Hills is a private course for employees of Aramco.
Headquartered in Dhahran, Aramco is one of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, creating value across the hydro-carbon chain and delivering societal and economic benefits to people and communities around the globe who rely on the vital energy it supplies.
“Aramco takes great pride in sponsoring and hosting Asia’s best up-and-coming talent at our beautiful, yet challenging, golf course,” said Mr Al-Nuaim.
“We are always seeking strategic and long-term partnerships and we look forward to further developing our relationship with the Asian Tour and Asian Development Tour.”
Ends.
Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit contenders will be driving for glory when they line-up in November’s Toyota Tour Championship.
To be staged over the Palm Course (pictured) at Kuala Lumpur’s Saujana Golf & Country Club, the event is being co-sanctioned by the ADT and the Toyota Tour, Malaysia’s domestic professional circuit.
Both the ADT and Toyota Tour will be allocated 66 spots with six invites each in the starting line-up.
The total prize fund will be RM350,000 (approximately US$74,000).
As well as acting as the penultimate leg of the ADT’s 2023 season, the Toyota Tour Championship (November 15-18) will mark the culmination of the inaugural Toyota Tour campaign.
The ADT’s most recent winner, Deyen Lawson of Australia, who claimed the Indo Masters Golf Invitational presented by TNE. Picture by Yulius Martinus/OB Golf.
Following on from the PKNS Selangor Masters (November 8-11), it will also wrap-up a two-week mini-Malaysian swing for the ADT during which the Order of Merit battle is certain to intensify.
With promotion to the Asian Tour in 2024 the prize for the top-10 in the end-of-season ADT standings, the Malaysian tournaments will be pivotal in determining which players will make the step-up next year.
Cho Minn Thant, the Asian Tour Commissioner & CEO, said: “I know our players will be delighted to have back-to-back events in Malaysia as the ADT season heads towards what promises to be an exciting climax.
“With playing rights for the 2024 Asian Tour season on the line, there will be so much at stake. A good fortnight in Malaysia could confirm a player’s place in the top-10 or propel them into contention.
“Our thanks go to our friends at the Toyota Tour as well as the management and staff at Saujana, which has been the scene of so many memorable championships over the past 25 years.”
Launched this year, the Toyota Tour is a tri-party agreement between the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour, UMW Toyota Motor as the naming partner and MST Golf as the delivery agency.
“The partnership with the ADT for the season-ending Toyota Tour Championship will provide an avenue for our professionals to progress to the regional circuits and beyond,” said PGM Tour Acting Chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman.
Deyen Lawson of Australia chipped in on the first hole of a play-off to win the second Indo Masters presented by TNE today, beating Thailand’s Charng-Tai Sudsom for his first win on the Asian Development Tour (ADT).
Lawson, who posted the low round of the day with a 65 to push himself into contention, appeared to be facing a disappointing second place from the clubhouse as Charng-Tai teed off on 18 with a one-shot lead at Imperial Klub Golf.
However, when a misplaced lay-up shot by Charng-Tai found the water, and when he could not get up and down from the drop, his bogey finish for a 66 meant the pair had to head out for a play-off.
Naoki Sekito of Japan pictured in action atthe second Indo Masters Golf Invitational presnted by TNE on October 13, 2023. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OB Golf
On the par-five 18th, and with both players unable to make the green with their second shots, the hole was still open. Despite Charng-Tai’s best efforts to get close from a difficult lie, once Lawson chipped in from 20 yards, it was game over.
Said Lawson after his win: “It’s been close for the last few weeks and I’ve been playing solid, so it’s really good to get over the line.
“It was good to chip in to win,” he added. “You practice that shot all the time on the chipping green but you never really expect it to happen in a play-off so that was pretty fortunate. I’m really happy.”
With the win and several top 10 placings this season, Lawson is now leading the ADT Order of Merit as the season draws to a conclusion. “Obviously I want to finish in the top 10 to get an Asian Tour card,” he said, “but you never get sick of winning, no matter where it is, so I’m really excited.”
Four shots back in third place were Thailand’s Sarut Vongchaisit (66), England’s Joe Heraty (68) and Japan’s Naoki Sekito (69) who finished with a total of 207 over the three days.
Sarut Vongchaisit of Thailand pictured in action atthe second Indo Masters Golf Invitational presnted by TNE on October 13, 2023. Picture by Yulius Martinus / OB Golf
In sixth place, with 208 strokes, were Thailand’s Chonjarern Baramithanaseth (69), Pattaraphol Khanthatcha (69) and Supravee Phatam (71), together with Sweden’s Oscar Zetterwall (70), and Indonesia’s Kevin Akbar (71).
Three shots behind in 11th spot were Thailand’s Vanchai Luangnitikul (71) and Italy’s Andrea Saracino (71).
Australia’s Aaron Wilkin (71), winner of the BRG Open Golf Championship in Vietnam in August, was unable to recover from a poor performance on the opening day but remains in contention for the OOM after finishing in 13th tied with Thatland’s Pisitchai Thippong (72) on 213.
The next event on the ADT’s 2023 schedule is the PKNS Selangor Masters at Kelab Golf Seri Selangor in Malaysia, which takes place from November 8-11. The US$175,000 event is the tenth ADT event of the season and will be played over 72 holes.
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