The Aramco Invitational Tournament, the showstopper event on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) last year, will return to the schedule this year, and be played at Rolling Hills Golf Club, in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia from November 27-30.

With a total purse of US$250,000, which matches last year’s prize fund, it will be one of the most lucrative events on the ADT – playing a decisive role in determining who finishes in the top-10 on the Order of Merit, which will reward players with Asian Tour cards for the 2025 season.

Today’s news follows the exciting announcement last year of Aramco’s title sponsorship of the event for three years, starting in 2023, making it the biggest and most significant partnership in the history of the ADT. Headquartered in Dhahran, Aramco is one of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies.

Nabil Al-Nuaim, Chairman of the Saudi Aramco Golf Association (SAGA) and Aramco’s Senior Vice President of Digital and Information Technology, said: “Aramco is proud to continue to support golf through partnerships with key national and international partners. We aim to support the Asian Development Tour and encourage young and aspiring Saudi nationals to become professional golfers.”

Rolling Hills Country Club.

The field size will be 120 players, including 70 from the ADT, 40 from Aramco, and 10 invitees.

Last year, in one of the most thrilling finishes witnessed on the ADT and Asian Tour, Thailand’s Denwit Boriboonsub (main picture) won the Aramco Invitational Tournament by beating England’s William Harrold in a sudden-death play-off at Rolling Hills Golf Club.

The win for Denwit was also enough to clinch victory in the season-long Order of Merit, as it was the final event of the season. Remarkably, the following week, he triumphed in the Thailand Open on the All Thailand Golf Tour, and the week after that, he won the Saudi Open presented by Public Investment Fund, the last stop of the year on the Asian Tour.

Ken Kudo, General Manager of the Asian Development Tour, said: “We all saw the incredible impact the Aramco Invitational Tournament made on the Asian Development Tour last year, in terms of how it dramatically transformed Denwit Boriboonsub’s season and the opportunities it offered him, and also the overall level of excitement it contributed to the circuit.

“The ADT is on the rise, and it is because of partners like Aramco. We thank them for their ongoing support and commitment to the development of our Tour, its members and golf in our regions as a whole.”

Minhaj Khan, Vice Chairman of the Saudi Aramco Golf Association, said: “Aramco aims to expand, enhance and enrich the Asian Development Tour, and players will have an opportunity to compete in the event while experiencing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the fullest.”

Thailand’s Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij was victorious in the inaugural event in 2022, when it was also played at the Rolling Hills Golf Course.

The Aramco Invitational Tournament announcement is the sixth ADT event to be unveiled so far this season, with many more to come.

Last year, the schedule featured 12 events, offering lucrative overall prize money of US$1.38million.

Located in Dhahran, Rolling Hills is a private course for employees of Aramco.

Pakistan’s Ahmad Baig stormed to his first international win on the Asian Development Tour today, carding a 65 to claim victory in the Lexus Invitational at The Bluffs Grand Ho Tram, Vietnam.

Baig, who started the day three flights and three shots behind the leaders, reeled off a sizzling string of five birdies to stamp his authority on the round, making the turn in 30.

Two more birdies followed and despite a bogey on the last hole, he had done enough to wait in the clubhouse and watch his challengers fade away.

“It was a great day for me,” he said after his round. “A good score. Five birdies on the front nine, two birdies and a bogey on the back.”

“Mostly short putts. I started on the fourth hole, long putt for birdie, and then it was birdie, birdie, birdie… Just magical.

“Everything was perfect today, except for the last hole!”

“To win is always a special feeling. I’m so happy, first win on an international tour, actually my third win in a row, two in Pakistan last week and this is the third,” he added.

Despite the wind, which has been a constant factor on all three days of this US$85,000 ADT tournament, Baig (206) was able to overcome the weather which caused the overnight leaders to struggle.

Second place went to Jakraphan Premsirigorn (208) of Thailand, who carded two birdies to move up one spot, finishing ahead of Korea’s Lion Park and overnight leader Sangchai Kaewcharoen who shared third place with 209 strokes over the three rounds.

Japan’s Aoki Takano (210) claimed a share of fifth alongside Itthipat Buranatanyarat of Thailand, who finished with a disappointing double bogey at the last to deny him a place further up the leaderboard.

Kammalas Namuangruk of Thailand and Korea’s Minhyeok Yang were two early starters who took full advantage of a morning lull to improve their positions, posting 66 and 68 respectively to join Natipong Srithong of Thailand and Liu Enhua of China in seventh place on 211 strokes.

In 11th spot on 212 strokes were Thailand’s Kosuke Hamamoto, who shared Baig’s low round of the day with a 65, his compatriot Weerawish Narkprachar, Eric McIntosh of Scotland, Liu Yung-hua of Chinese Taipei and Australia’s Peter Wilson.

The Lexus Challenge, which is now in its fourth year, was jointly sanctioned by the ADT and the Vietnam Golf Association and was the opening event in what is expected to be one of the strongest schedules in the history of the ADT.

Thailand’s Sangchai Kaewcharoen carded his second round of 69 on day two of the Lexus Challenge in Vietnam today, forcing his way into a share of the lead with compatriot Itthipat Buranatanyarat on four under par.

On a calmer day at The Bluffs Grand Ho Tram, the wind played less of a factor for the early part of the day, favouring the late morning groups but then picking up again in the afternoon to dampen down the scores.

Jakraphan Premsirigorn of Thailand and Liu Enhua of China share third place in the US$85,000 event, the opening tournament of the Asian Development Tour for the 2024 season.

As with yesterday, slow play and fading light threatened to halt proceedings before the round could be completed but the last flights grouped up on the ninth hole and were able to hole out before darkness fell.

Sangchai, who was in the last jumbo group rushing to finish, did give up a stroke with a rushed tee shot which cost him the solo lead, but he was glad to finish and was looking forward to the final day.

“I’m feeling good about it,” he said after his round. “I played well today. The last hole wasn’t good but I’ll just try to play the same again tomorrow and have fun. There was a strong wind again today, but my putting was good,” he explained

Korea’s Lion Park shared fifth spot with Runchanapong Youprayong on two under par. Although starting the day as overnight leader, a double bogey finish saw Runchanapong drop down the leaderboard at the last.

Tied in seventh spot are a number of climbers, including Japan’s Aoki Takano and Malaysia’s Galven Green. Both had poor first round scores – a 73 and 74 respectively – but scores of 68 and 67 pushed them up the table to one under par, sharing the spot with Pakistan’s Ahmad Baig and the Thai duo of Ekpharit Wu and Natipong Srithong.

In 12th place on even par are Thailand’s Tanapat Pichaikool, Peter Wilson of Australia, Leo Oyo of Japan, Malaysia’s Paul San and Liu Yun-hua of Chinese Taipei.

Play will continue for the third and final round tomorrow with 51 players remaining after the cut was made at +6. The round will start at 7am with the leaders teeing off at 8.28am.

The Lexus Challenge, which is now in its fourth year, is jointly sanctioned by the ADT and the Vietnam Golf Association and is the opening event in what is expected to be one of the strongest schedules in the history of the ADT.

Thailand’s Runchanapong Youprayong recovered well from a difficult start in the wind-affected first round of the Lexus Challenge in Vietnam today, bouncing back to end the day with a one shot lead at five under par.

His compatriot Itthipat Buranatanyarat sits at four under par, with Japan’s Leo Oyo in solo third on three under par. Thailand’s Sangchai Kaewcharoen and Pakistan’s Ahmad Baig are one shot further back in the opening tournament of the Asian Development Tour season.

The US$85,00O event, held at The Bluffs Grand Ho Tram, was beset by high winds in the morning, and players had to adjust their games accordingly.

“I feel good because it is my first time here and there was a lot of wind today,” said Itthipat after his round. “I practiced yesterday and I still didn’t know how to play in these conditions but this morning on the range I worked out how to get the ball under the wind,” he explained.

Itthipat Buranatanyarat

Leader Runchanapong was able to overcome an early wobble and used the recovery momentum to build his round.

“I didn’t start off very well,” he said. “I doubled my fourth hole of the day but on the next par fives I was able to capitalise, I had a birdie and an eagle so I was able to get my round going.

“Off the tee was my strength today, plus I made a couple of putts. You have to keep it on the fairway here, and keep the ball pretty low because the wind is blowing out there,” he added.

In sixth place, on one under par, are Thailand’s Natipong Srithong and Ekpharit Wu, Paul San of Malaysia, French amateur Jean Francois Peron, Peter Wilson of Australia and Korea’s Lion Park.

Chiu Han-ting of Chinese Taipei leads a group in 12th place on even par, together with Tanapat Pichaikool and Jakraphan Premsirigorn of Thailand, Malaysia’s Amir Nazrin and Akinori Tani of Japan.

Some of the afternoon wave were still out on the course when play was stopped at 6.10pm due to poor light. A total of 16 players are yet to complete their first round and play will resume for them at 6.50am. Round Two will start as expected at 6.45am.

The Lexus Challenge, which is now in its fourth year, is jointly sanctioned by the ADT and the Vietnam Golf Association and is the opening event in what is expected to be one of the strongest schedules in the history of the ADT.