The Toyota Tour Championship returns this November 20-23 as the penultimate stop on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) for the second year running, thus playing a pivotal role in determining the final Order of Merit and the leading 10 players who will earn coveted Asian Tour cards for 2025.

Co-sanctioned with Malaysia’s domestic professional circuit, the Toyota Tour, the MYR400,000 (approx. US$91,000) event will be played at Asian Tour Destinations venue, Kota Permai Golf & Country Club, on the outskirts of the capital city of Kuala Lumpur.

With the 144-player field featuring the leading 66 available players from the ADT, 66 from the Toyota Tour and 12 invitations, fans can expect some scintillating action from a mix of established players and rising talents.

Headlining the ADT line-up is current Order of Merit leader Rahil Gangjee of India, who has already won twice this year including once on Malaysian soil at the PKNS Selangor Masters in June.

The 46-year-old also won the BRG Open which took place at another Asian Tour Destinations venue, the Legend Danang Golf Resort in Vietnam, in August. Gangjee sits atop the Order of Merit with US$51,307.33 in season earnings.

Hot on Gangjee’s heels in the merit standings is rising Pakistani talent Ahmad Baig, who has amassed US$50,822.95 from his 2024 ADT exploits – which include two wins in Vietnam, at the Nam A Bank Vietnam Masters and the Lexus Challenge.

The 26-year-old will head to Kota Permai in fine form and high in confidence, having chalked up top-five finishes in his last two ADT starts.

Just over a month ago, Baig came close to claiming a third victory when he finished sole second at the inaugural ADT Players Championship, played at Asian Tour Destinations venue Angkor Golf Resort in Cambodia.

Gangjee and Baig aside, five winners on the 2024 ADT will be gunning for glory at Kota Permai – Liu Yung-hua of Chinese Taipei, along with the formidable Thai quartet of Kammalas Namuangruk, Tanapat Pichaikool, Nopparat Panichphol and Witchayapat Sinsrang.

The local challenge meanwhile will rest largely on the broad shoulders of Malaysian number one Gavin Green, who is back home following a solid season in Europe.

Other Malaysians of note in the field are Gavin’s younger brother Galven, Toyota Tour Rankings leader Paul San, Ervin Chang, Amir Nazrin and the promising rookie professional, Marcus Lim.

Veteran campaigner Danny Chia, a two-time Asian Tour and four-time ADT winner, will also fly the Malaysian flag at Kota Permai on the back of an impressive win at last week’s Yaris Cup on the Toyota Tour.

Kota Permai Golf & Country Club welcomes the ADT’s Toyota Tour Championship this November 20-23

The Toyota Tour Championship is also the season-ender for the Toyota Tour, which was launched last year as a tri-party collaboration between Professional Golf of Malaysia, UMW Toyota Motor as the naming partner, and MST Golf as the delivery agency.

The inaugural event at Saujana Golf & Country last November saw Thailand’s Suttinon Panyo triumph by three shots over India’s Khalin Joshi.

The ADT’s General Manager, Ken Kudo, noted that the 2024 championship will be one to savour: “As the penultimate event on the 2024 Asian Development Tour, the Toyota Tour Championship will certainly have a huge bearing on the top 10 players on the final Order of Merit who will graduate to the Asian Tour in 2025.

“Golf fans can look forward to some great golfing action as the leading ADT players take on the cream of Malaysian professional golf.

“We would like to extend our utmost appreciation to our valued partners, UMW Toyota Motor and Professional Golf of Malaysia, for their vision in promoting Malaysian golf and for making the ADT part of that vision.

“Our players are certainly geared up to take on the superb Kota Permai course, which is one of the foremost tournament venues in this part of the world,” said Kudo.

Crafted by Australian architect Ross Watson, the Kota Permai course is widely acknowledged as one of the best in Southeast Asia with its strategic, risk-for-reward design and super-fast greens.

The club has hosted a plethora of top-class events since opening in 1998, including the Malaysian Open (2008, 2020) and the Volvo Masters of Asia (2002, 2003, 2004).

“Players can expect a challenging yet fair course set-up with a mix of risk-and-reward holes, strategically-placed hazards, and fast, firm greens. The course will test both distance and precision, with difficult pin positions requiring careful shot selection and placement,” said Tang Meng Loon, Executive Director of Gamuda Land which owns and operates Kota Permai.

“Our primary objective in hosting this event is to support our local professional players, while showcasing Kota Permai as part of the Asian Tour Destinations network. Our exceptional facilities create the ideal environment for both players and spectators, ensuring a world-class experience for everyone involved,” he added.

In the week following the Toyota Tour Championship, the 2024 ADT season will come to a close with its 12th and final event, the US$250,000 Aramco Invitational Tournament at Rolling Hills Golf Club in Saudi Arabia.

Thailand’s Witchayapat Sinsrang produced an almost flawless round to snatch victory at the Ambassador ADT Open today, his low-round 68 and four-round total of 283 enough to beat fellow countryman Kosuke Hamamoto by a single shot.

A bogey on the final hole was Witchayapat’s only dropped shot for the day, and despite a late birdie by playing partner Hamamoto (69) on the same hole, he had enough advantage to hold on for the win at the challenging Hsin Feng Country Club.

“I’m thrilled to get my first win today,” said Witchayapat after his round. “A big thank you to ADT, our sponsor, and the course—despite the windy conditions, it was in great shape. I tried to play it safe, avoiding any risky shots, and that really helped me stay steady.

“The turning point for me was on the 16th hole. I hit a 3-wood toward the treeline on the right, spotted a gap, and aimed for it. I managed to land the ball about 6 feet from the hole and then made the putt. It really felt like an MVP moment. Unfortunately, I did 3-putt on the last hole, but overall I’m really happy with how I played,” he said.

“I’ve been playing golf since I was 8, and I went to university in Kansas where I got used to playing in the wind. I turned pro in 2020, and my goal is to keep playing ADT events, improve my ranking, and ultimately earn a spot on the Asian Tour. My dream is to play on the PGA Tour, so I’ll continue to work hard and do my best for the future,” he added.

Hamamoto, who had to recover from an opening round score of 75, felt he had improved as the tournament progressed.

“Overall, I felt solid from tee to green today,” he said. “I’ve been working on my putting, and I’m definitely seeing improvement there, which really helped my result. This course is a great test for every part of your game — narrow, windy, and challenging. It forces you to think carefully about each shot. That’s why players like James Chan are so strong here; it’s his home course, and it really suits his game.”

Witchayapat and Hamamoto, playing in the penultimate group, started the day three shots behind leader Minhyeok Yang (74) of Korea, who was unable to get any momentum despite his lead in the US$100,000 Asian Development Tour event.

A bogey on the first hole, and a double just two holes later, meant he made the turn at two over par, finishing on the same score to par after a three birdie, three bogey back nine.

Thammasack Bouahom of Laos, who made a valiant fight back into contention after a disastrous opening round, was also able to gain advantage in the final round. His score of 69 lifted him into a share of third place alongside Thailand’s Nirun Sae-ueng (70).

Ahmad Baig (72) of Pakistan, who was just two shots adrift of Yang at the start of play, was also unable to get his game going. An eagle on the ninth hole rescued him from two bogeys earlier in the round, but he was only able to make par for the back nine for a shared fifth place with Yang.

Ireland’s Kevin Phelan was another of the three low scorers on the day. His bogey-free 68 – with four birdies on the back nine – helped him to a share of seventh place, alongside Hsieh Chi-hsien (72) and Yu Sung-po (72) of Chinese Taipei.

Thailand’s Tanapat Pichaikool (70) secured solo 10th spot followed by fellow Thai Runchanapong Youprayong (73) and first round leader Liu Yung-hua of Chinese Taipei in 11th place. Yeh Chia-yin (71) of Chinese Taipei secured 13th spot.

In 14th place were India’s Khalin Joshi (68), the third of the low scorers of the day, together with Sean Ramos (71) of the Philippines and Hong Kong’s Leon D’Souza (73).

Current Order of Merit leader Rahil Gangee (71) could only manage a share of 19th spot, which means his lead has been cut by Baig as they head into the final two events of the season. Tanapat and Liu remain as they were in third and fourth place respectively while Witchayapat’s win sees him move up into fifth place.

From here, the action moves to Malaysia and the Kota Permai Golf and Country Club for the Toyota Tour Championship. The MYR400,000 event will be held over four rounds from November 20-23.

The final event of the season is the Aramco Invitational Tournament, which will be held at Rolling GHills Golf Club in Saudi Arabia from November 27-30.

Korea’s Minhyeok Yang consolidated his lead with a one-under-par score of 71 to head into the final round of the Ambassador ADT Open, overcoming a double bogey with a string of birdies to to maintain his advantage.

Yang, who led overnight, holds a two shot lead at four under par over Pakistan’s Ahmad Baig (68) who is looking to make a move in the season-long Order of Merit on the Asian Development Tour.

“My tee shots weren’t as good as I’d hoped,” said Yang after his round, “but my putting was generally good except for the double bogey on hole 10.

“The wind was much lighter today, which made a big difference. I also had to adjust my aiming, as the shot angles felt a bit different compared to what I’m used to.

“I definitely need to practice more, but I’ll approach tomorrow with no pressure and just focus on my game,” he added.

Baig, currently second on the OOM standings after two wins already this year, recovered from two over par early rounds with one of the low rounds of the day to move into second place in the tournament.

“I used the driver on every hole and putted really well today,” Baig explained after submitting his score. “The weather was less windy, which definitely helped.

“It’s my first time in Taiwan, and I have to say, the people are incredibly friendly, the food is amazing, and the temperature is just perfect,” he added.

In third place in the US$100,000 Asian Development Tour event on one under, Thailand’s Nirun Sae-ueng (69), Kosuke Hamamoto (70) and Witchayapat Sinsrang (71) share the spot with Yu Sung-po (70) and Hsieh Chi-hsien (73) of Chinese Taipei.

Runchanapong Youprayong (72) of Thailand and Laotian Thammasack Bouahom are tied in eighth place on even par, followed by first round leader Liu Yung-hua one shot further back.

Thailand’s Itthipat Buranatanyarat, who also shot a low round of 68 today, is in 11th spot going in to the final round alongside his compatriot and OOM contender Tanapat Pichaikool (72).

Hong Kong’s Leon D’Souza is tied in 13th place with Ireland’s Kevin Phelan and Yeh Chia-yin of Chinese Taipei.

Korea’s Lion Park (73) is in solo 16th on four over par and the top 20 is rounded out by Sean Ramos (72) of the Philippines, and Lin Ta-yu (72) and Chang Tse-yu (75) of Chinese Taipei.

With only two events left this season, Baig will be looking to make a move on current OOM leader Rahil Gangee (76) and his nearest rival Tanapat.

Only nine players broke par in today’s play at the notoriously tough Hsin Feng Country Club track, where the wind and narrow fairways present a challenge to even the best golfers.

Play will continue on schedule tomorrow with the final round starting at 7.10am off two tees, with the leaders getting underway at 8.38am.