simon, Author at Asian Tour

International Series Morocco celebrates two-year extension


Published on July 10, 2025

Morocco will remain a key destination on the calendar for The International Series, 10 top-tier events on the Asian Tour, following a landmark agreement with the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation (MRGF) under the continued patronage of the Royal Family.

A two-year agreement was confirmed on the sidelines of International Series Morocco at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat last week, which was won by Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent.

The news underscores Morocco’s rising status as a premier hub for world-class golf the region with a robust ecosystem committed to nurturing talent which includes two Asian Development Tour (ADT) events and further important initiatives that support the growth of the game in the country, from grassroots level upwards.

Rahul Singh [main picture], Head of The International Series, said: “We are very excited to share that we have an agreement with the Royal Moroccan Golf Association, with the patronage of the Royal Family, and can confirm that we will be back here for 2026 and for at least two years. We would like to thank His Majesty the King and his Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rashid.

“All parties understand our commitment to the growth of golf in all our tournament destinations and the wider Asia region, and we want to play an integral part in supporting Morocco’s rise in the regional and global golfing ecosystem as it becomes an important destination and leader for the industry in North Africa and the MENA region.”

Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, with Jalil Benazzouz, from the Royal Moroccan Golf Association, pictured at a press briefing.

Recently, Morocco’s growing status was highlighted through the country’s qualification for the prestigious World Amateur Team Championships (WATC), which will be held this October at the Tanah Merah Country Club in Singapore.

Jalil Bennazouz from the RMGF added: “The International Series exposes our local and regional talent to high-level international competition, and an extension of our current strong partnership offers an exceptional opportunity to further nurture them and empower them to further their undoubted potential.”

The 2025 International Series Morocco this year took on added significance as part of a broader strategic initiative to grow the game in the region. In the two weeks leading up to the event, Morocco hosted two ADT events which gave 40 players from the Arab Golf Federation the opportunity to compete with talent from the wider region for places in the field for the LIV Golf-backed event, the fourth of 10 on the Asian Tour calendar.

“The International Series has always been about creating pathways, generating opportunity, and growing the game,” added Singh. “In partnership with the Asian Tour and aligned with the principles of LIV Golf, we’re proud to bring these goals to life in a real and measurable way. While we offer a clearly defined pathway onto LIV Golf, these opportunities for regional talent are arguably even more significant. ”

The field in Morocco reflected the region’s deepening involvement in the global game, with 13 players from the Arab Golf Federation, including eight from Morocco, highlighting the tournament’s role as a launchpad for talent in the region.

“The tournament feeds directly into our mission to grow the talent, in a mixture of established and developing markets, and ensure that the game of golf continues to expand worldwide,” added Singh.

The International Series offers a pathway onto the LIV Golf League for the player who finishes top of the rankings at the end of the season.

Pictures by Steve Bardens/Asian Tour.


Published on July 9, 2025

The tree-lined Red Course at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam is a place where you need to be accurate off both the tee and into the greens, and it was no surprise to see Scott Vincent holding the International Series Morocco trophy on Sunday afternoon.

The Zimbabwean has been in good form all year and, including Morocco, has now produced seven top-10s in 11 starts worldwide, including four top-fives in his last five events.

The key stats that stood out for Vincent last week were, appropriately, his accuracy off the tee and into the greens, plus avoiding bogies by excelling in scrambling when he did make mistakes.

The 33-year-old co-led the Fairways Hit stats after the third round and ended T7 in this category with 71.67% after dropping off slightly in the final round.

Scott Vincent prevailed thanks to making the most birdies and least bogies. 

His approach game into the demanding greens was also very good, and with a 77.78% Greens in Regulation (GIR) he ranked fifth. This also gave Vincent plenty of opportunities for birdies, and he took full advantage and co-led the field with American Peter Uihlein with 20 birdies for the week.

Vincent also managed to keep bogies to a minimum, his six was the fewest of the players making the cut. This was mainly thanks to his excellent Scrambling where he ranked second with 81.25%.

His other stats for the week: Putts per Green 28.25 (T12), Putts per GIR 1.732 (14th) and Driving Distance 290.83 yards (45th).

Runner-up Danthai Boonma from Thailand started the final round eight shots behind the leader, but produced a stunning final round of 66, seven under par, equaling the lowest round of the week posted by Vincent on Friday.

Austen Truslow topped the GIR stats on his way to his best finish on the Asian Tour. He finished sixth.

Like the tournament champion he was also in control of his irons and with a GIR percentage of 80.56% he ranked third in this category. He was also good at converting his chances on the greens and with 18 birdies during the week he placed T8 in that table.

Danthai’s other stats for the week: Putts per Round 30.5 (T41), Putts per GIR 1.741 (17th), Driving Distance 301.38 yards (23rd) and Fairways Hit 60% (T25).

Statistics Categories leaders at the International Series Morocco (of players making the cut):

  • Putts per Round – M.J. Maguire (USA): 26.75
  • Putts per GIR – Nitithorn Thippong (THA): 1.675
  • GIR – Austen Truslow (USA): 83.33%
  • Fairways Hit – Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND): 76.67%
  • Driving Distance – Bobby Bai (CHN): 325.88 yards
  • Most Eagles – Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA), Manav Shah (USA), Nitithorn Thippong (THA), Takumi Murakami (JPN): 2
  • Most Birdies – Scott Vincent (ZIM), Peter Uihlein (USA): 20
  • Fewest Bogies or Worse – Scott Vincent (ZIM): 6
  • Scrambling – Miguel Carballo (ARG): 84.21%
  • Bounce back – Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA): 53.85%

Pictures by Steve Bardens/Asian Tour.


Published on July 8, 2025

Scott Vincent’s popular and brilliant victory in the International Series Morocco at the weekend catapulted him into first place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit – having started the week in 18th position.

He also leapt into second on The International Series Rankings, from 45th, confirming what everyone knew already: that the Zimbabwean is back to his best.

He has been trending all year. The week before Morocco he’d finished third in the Japan Players Championship and in May he was fourth in the Kolon Korea Open – one of four top-12 finishes on the Asian Tour this season, prior to Morocco.

However, the 33-year-old from Harare who is now based in the United States, explained on Sunday it was far from plain sailing despite winning by four from Thailand’s Danthai Boonma.

“It’s always tough to know,” said Vincent, who led by one shot over Danthai after 14 holes before pulling away with three birdies in his last four, including a celebratory 20-footer on the last.

Scott Vincent hits his approach to 18 to set up a 20-foot birdie putt that he duly drained. 

“Starting with the lead, you know you’re in a good spot, but I try not to look at the leaderboards. That way, I never really know exactly where I stand.

“There had been some great rounds all week — seven under, six under — and I knew the guys in contention were capable of going low. Through nine holes, I was even par and felt like I was getting left behind. I just had to hang in there.

“The last few holes offer some good opportunities, and fortunately, I was able to make a few birdies coming in. That ended up creating a bit of separation. But honestly, even on the final hole, I felt like I needed at least a two-putt, not knowing I had a three-shot lead.”

It was his second win on the Asian Tour, the first coming in the International Series England in June of 2022 – the year he claimed The International Series Rankings to earn a place on the star-studded LIV Golf League.

Vincent says he can’t put his finger on what has triggered his fine form this year.

He said: “Honestly, I don’t know exactly. I feel like I’ve been doing the same things I’ve done for the past couple of years. But I’ve been more consistent with the little things, and over time, that adds up.”

Vincent remarkably hit 17 greens in regulation on Sunday.

He excelled playing for Iron Head GC on LIV in 2022, finishing fourth individually in Singapore and Jeddah. Those performances helped secure his playing rights for the ensuing season and after victory in Morocco he is even more determined to get back on the LIV stage.

“The goal with The International Series is to give yourself a real shot by the end of the year. Winning early helps a lot — it gives you more opportunities to perform well going forward.

“The Series has been great for me. It’s how I ended up on LIV Golf a couple of years ago, so I know what it means. This boosts me up significantly, and we’ll see where it leads. There are still a lot of tournaments left.”

Pictures by Steve Bardens/Asian Tour.


Published on July 3, 2025

South African major winner Charl Schwartzel knows all about bringing pride to the continent of Africa after his memorable Masters triumph in 2011, and the LIV Golf star is hoping that the International Series Morocco can prove to be a breeding ground for yet more future champions from the region.

Schwartzel is the headliner for the fourth of 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour this week, which takes place at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam’s Red Course in Rabat. The 40-year-old Stinger GC man will be going in search of his first tournament win since 2022 – when he landed the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational London title.

Schwartzel, who tees off at 12:50 local time in the marquee group with defending champion New Zealand’s Ben Campbell and Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand, said: “It is a fantastic opportunity for everyone. It is great to play in these International Series events for us (LIV Golf players), and it is even better for the guys playing for the opportunity (to get onto the LIV Golf League at the end of the season).

Charl Schwartzel is attempting to win for the first time since the 2022 LIV Golf Invitational London.

“The whole thing about the Asian Tour and the International Series, and LIV Golf, is that they move around, and so we get to play various parts of the world and expose the game in these destinations. That offers a wonderful opportunity.”

This year’s event provided even more rewards to budding talent from the region, through two Asian Development Tour events in Marrakech that offered competition and a qualification route for golfers from the region and across Asia. Schwartzel added: “I think that is an amazing opportunity for local players from Morocco.

“These tournaments offer a way to qualify to get into bigger events like this, which could potentially be life-changing. The experience is something that money cannot buy – the experience built up will serve the local players very well.”

Local hero Ayoub Lguirati is one of the leading lights for golf in North Africa. He is one of eight Moroccan players in the field this week, eager to test themselves against some of the best in the world.

Schwartzel says the International Series Morocco will be an experience money can’t buy for local players.

The Moroccan will be hoping to replicate or improve on the form that brought a T28 in the first edition of the tournament in 2022, followed a week later by a T37 at the International Series Egypt which only told half the story – he was T9 at the halfway stage in Cairo.

Lguirati, who tees off at 8am local time in a group with Jaco Ahlers of South Africa and Thailand’s David Boriboonsub, believes the development of golf in Morocco is on the right track. He said: “The game is growing and it is very welcome. The new generation is motivated, and the FRMG programmes are a tremendous help, down to the clear vision of His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid.

“He has a vision to develop champions and elevate Morocco on the international stage, and with more support and world-class international tournaments like this, we can deliver and keep rising to the challenge.”

Lguirati has seen a wealth of talent emerge from Morocco in recent times, and he is confident the next generation can go on to even bigger and better things. His advice?

“Stay disciplined and work hard every day. Nothing comes easy, but with hard work, everything is possible.”

Pictures by Steven Bardens/Asian Tour.


Published on July 2, 2025

The third International Series Morocco starts tomorrow, returning to Royal Golf Dar Es Salam – the event’s regular home.

New Zealand’s Ben Campbell is back to defend the title he won last year, following a sudden-death play-off with American John Catlin, as is Jazz Janewattananond from Thailand, winner of the inaugural event in 2022.

It will be the one and only stop by the Asian Tour on the African continent this season and promises to be another magical week in Morocco’s capital city Rabat. The Asian Development Tour has just spent two weeks in Marrakech, for the first time, so the momentum has been building ahead of this exciting week.

The International Series Morocco is the eighth stop of the season on the Asian Tour.

Tournament Information

  • Tournament name: International Series Morocco
  • Date: 3-6 July, 2025
  • Venue: Red Course, Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, Rabat, Morocco
  • Par/Yards: 73 / 7,596 yards
  • Purse: US$2 million (First place US$360,000)
  • Defending champion: Ben Campbell (NZL)
  • Asian Tour leg: Eighth
  • International Series leg: Fourth
  • Edition of tournament: Third
  • Total number of players: 156
  • Format: Strokeplay over four rounds of 18 holes with cut made after 36 holes. The leading 65 professionals plus ties make it through to the weekend.
  • Social media hashtags: #TimeToRise #InternationalSeries #ThisISEverything

View towards the 11th green on the Red Course at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.

Field Breakdown

  • Former winners: Ben Campbell (NZL), 2024, Jazz Janewattananond (THA), 2022
  • Winners from this year:
  1. Julien Sale (FRA) – Smart Infinity Philippine Open
  2. Ollie Schniederjans (USA) – International Series India presented by DLF
  3. Ryan Peake (AUS) – New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport
  4. Sadom Kaewkanjana (THA) – Kolon Korea Open
  • Order of Merit winners: John Catlin (USA), 2024, Andy Ogletree (USA), 2023 Sihwan Kim (USA), 2022, Jazz Janewattananond (THA), 2019
  • Nationalities: 31
  • Highest ranked player on OWGR: John Catlin (USA) #154
  • Highest ranked player on 2025 Asian Tour Order of Merit: Sadom Kaewkanjana (THA) #2
  • Highest ranked player on the 2025 International Series Rankings: Ollie Schniederjans (USA) # T2
  • Number of amateurs: four
  • Number of Moroccan players: eight

Ryan Peake is one of four winners from this season competing.

Tournament Notes

  • Defending champion Ben Campbell of New Zealand will be making his second Asian Tour start of 2025 after mainly playing on the LIV Golf League as part of the Range Goats GC team. His best result on LIV Golf is a third-place finish in Singapore and he’s currently 33rd in the standings. He has two International Series victories on his resume, having won the Hong Kong Open in 2023 and Morocco last year. Campbell finished second on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and third in The International Series Rankings in 2024.
  • American John Catlin, who lost this tournament in a play-off to Campbell last year, has posted one top-10 in three starts in the 2025 season, placing seventh at the New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport in early March. The 2024 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion had a spectacular season last year, posting wins in Macau and Saudi Arabia, three runners-up and eight top 10s on the way to setting the all-time Money List record with US$1,456,800.
  • Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana won the most recent Asian Tour event, the Kolon Korean Open in late May, and also recorded a T2 in the Smart Infinity Philippine Open, the first tournament of 2025. He’s currently second on the Asian Tour Order of Merit behind Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz.
  • Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe has had good results on the Asian Tour this season, with a T4 in the Kolon Korea Open and top 10s in the Smart Infinity Philippine Open and International Series India Presented by DLF. In two starts on the Japan Golf Tour in 2025 he has posted a T5 at the Gateway to the Open Mizuno Open and a T9 at the Maezawa Cup.
  • Peter Uihlein from the U.S. won two International Series events in 2024, in England and Qatar, and was narrowly pipped by Joaquin Niemann to top the International Series Rankings at the end of the year. In two Asian Tour starts this year he has a T10 in the International Series Macau presented by Wynn as his best result. Playing the LIV Golf League on the Range Goats GC squad, Uihlein’s highest finish this season has been a T6 at the Hong Kong event.
  • 2011 Masters Champion Charl Schwartzel from South Africa and Americans Caleb Surratt and Andy Ogletree – the 2023 International Series Rankings champion – are competing, as well as Mito Pereira from Chile.
  • Filipino cousins Carl Jano Corpus and Aidric Chan are set to enjoy the biggest week of their fledgling careers, thanks to success at the two Asian Development Tour (ADT) tournaments played in Marrakech over the past few weeks. Chan won the first and Corpus the next to top a cumulative money list for the events, which earned the top two a place in this week’s tournament. Chan currently tops the ADT Order of Merit.
  • Morocco’s Ayoub Lguirati who grabbed the headlines in the 2022 edition with an impressive display, that ultimately brought a T28 finish, returns to Rabat this week.
  • Royal Golf Dar Es Salam was designed by Robert Trent Jones and is just 15 minutes from the centre of Rabat. Its grounds cover some 440 hectares and offers 45 holes spread over three courses: the Red, Blue and Green, a nine-hole layout.

Pictures by Steve Bardens/Asian Tour.


Published on July 1, 2025

Filipino cousins Carl Jano Corpus and Aidric Chan are set to enjoy the biggest week of their fledgling careers at the International Series Morocco, thanks to success at the two Asian Development Tour (ADT) tournaments played in Marrakech.

The Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech tournaments, played over the past two weeks and jointly sanctioned with the Arab Golf Federation (AGF) as part of a three-year commitment, offered the top two players on a combined money list a place in the 156-man field for the Morocco showpiece at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat.

Last week, 21-year-old Chan [main picture] carded a solid seven-under par 65 final round to edge out India’s Karandeep Kochhar by a shot to win the first one at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Samanah Golf Club.

And at the weekend it was his 23-year-old cousin Corpus who claimed victory at Al Maaden Golf Resorts – in only his fifth start on the ADT and sixth as a professional.

Carl Jano Corpus won the second Morocco Rising Stars Marrakech event in just his fifth ADT start.

He edged Thailand’s Settee Prakongvech by one shot after a bogey-free, seven-under final round of 65 on the Kyle Phillips-designed golf course.

Corpus, who also tied ninth at Samanah, topped the aggregate money list for the two back-to-back ADT events, with Chan in second place.

Corpus said: “I am a champion. That is something that is not going to be taken away from me, something that I have until the rest of my life. I am excited about the opportunity to play in an International Series event.

“It is all about getting the opportunity to play in bigger events, so I can showcase my talent, the support I get back home and the hard work that I put in to get here.”

Chan, who also won the Lexus Challenge in Vietnam on the ADT in March, currently leads the ADT Order of Merit, with Corpus in fourth place.

The International Series Morocco starts on Thursday and boasts a stellar field that includes 2011 Masters Champion Charl Schwartzel from South Africa and defending champion Ben Campbell from New Zealand.

Both are part of a strong LIV Golf League contingent here in Morocco that also features American stars Peter Uihlein, Caleb Surratt and Andy Ogletree – the 2023 International Series Rankings champion – as well as Mito Pereira from Chile.


Published on June 30, 2025

New Zealand’s Ben Campbell produced a stunning finish to win the US$2 million International Series Morocco last year when he made a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-five 18th to beat John Catlin in the first play-off hole. Story from the 2024 Yearbook.

At the Red Course at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, it looked like a done deal for American Catlin, winner of the International Series Macau presented by Wynn and the PIF Saudi Open earlier in the year, when he reached the par-four 17th hole on Sunday with a lead of three shots.

However, Campbell, who closed with a two-under-par 71, made a sensational eagle on the par-four 17th and a birdie on 18 in regulation play to tie Catlin (72) on 15-under-par, before making the all-important birdie in the first extra hole.

“That was a great finish,” said the 33-year-old from Queenstown, winner of the Hong Kong Open in 2023. “I didn’t have my best out there today and I just kept saying to Mike [his caddie], I’ve just got to find something and just stay patient. I told him if I can find a birdie eagle, you never know what can happen. So, I did that, and then to hole a putt like that in the play-off, it’s always good.”

Victory in Morocco was Ben Campbell’s second success on the Asian Tour. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

American Caleb Surratt (71) and Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra (73) tied for third at 12-under par, three behind the top duo. Chacarra was the only one left in the hunt alongside Campbell and Catlin, but two bogeys coming in – on the 13th and 16th holes – threw a spanner in his works.

Catlin led wire-to-wire for 70 holes, opening up with a 64 on the par-73 course and following up with rounds of 71 and 68 before a seventh Asian Tour title was denied.

His only hiccup was a bogey-bogey start to his final round, but with Campbell also matching those numbers having started the day one behind, the leaderboard did not change. The Californian did not make any bogeys after that, but a par-par finish meant Campbell caught up with him in the end.

“You just have to tip the cap. I mean the guy goes two, four, four to finish. He probably made 130 feet of putts to win on the last three holes. All you can do is shake his hand and say well done,” said the 33-year-old Catlin.

“I played great. You know, I never, never gave in. I just kept battling. Kept chipping away. That birdie on the 15th gave me a decent little cushion there. I’m very pleased with the way I played.”

Before his bogeys on the first two holes on Sunday, Campbell had gone a remarkable 105 holes –five rounds and 15 holes – without a bogey on the Asian Tour, including his previous outing at the International Series Macau presented by Wynn, where he was bogey-free for his last two rounds.

Surratt, who played the 2024 LIV Golf season as part of Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII team and was the youngest player in League at 20, was playing in his first International Series event of the season and was delighted with his tied third place finish.

Before his bogeys on the first two holes on Sunday, Campbell had gone a remarkable 105 holes –five rounds and 15 holes – without a bogey. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

The young American star started with a modest 72 to be tied 42nd, but improved with rounds of 69, 68 and 71 and earned his first Official World Golf Ranking points of the year.

Surratt said: “I didn’t know it was going to be as good as this at my first International Series event, so it was definitely way more than I expected. It was a really good week and definitely gave me something good to build off of going into LIV Golf Andalucia.”

Italy’s Stefano Mazzoli and the consistent Travis Smyth of Australia were tied fifth at 11-under.

An interesting sidelight of the tournament was the performance of Zimbabwean Scott Vincent, who finished tied 13th, but that included playing his opening round with rental clubs and a two-shot penalty incurred for arriving late for his tee time after a mad dash to Casablanca airport to find out if his clubs arrived.

Vincent’s par four on the first was turned into a six, but he fought back to finish with a 68 to be two behind Catlin and Kiwi Kazuma Kobori on Thursday.

“I misjudged the timing coming back (on Thursday). We made one wrong turn and that put me a few minutes behind,” said the 2022 International Series Rankings champion.

“My clubs had arrived at about 9.30 that morning, so I was there waiting for them. I could see with my Apple tags that they were in the airport, but I just couldn’t get to them in time. It was hard letting them go knowing that I was within 20 metres of them somewhere. But yeah, I had to leave them in order to try and make the tee time and maybe left a little too late.”


Published on

Reigning Link Hong Kong Open champion Patrick Reed from the Unites States has claimed his first individual title on the LIV Golf League after winning in Dallas on Sunday.

The American prevailed against England’s Paul Casey, South African Louis Oosthuizen and Japan’s Jinichiro Kozuma – who like Reed is a member of the Asian Tour.

Reed, who also came close to winning the International Series Macau presented by Wynn this year finishing second, drained a tough birdie putt from about 17 feet on the first play-off hole to secure victory.

He had a three-shot lead going into the final round but closed with a three-over-par  75, at Maridoe Golf Club.

Patrick Reed’s win was also his first in his home state. Picture by Al Chang/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images.

It marks the first time that Houston-area resident Reed has claimed a pro tournament of any kind in his native state of Texas.

For Reed it was a long-anticipated individual title in his 41st regular-season LIV Golf start. Although he’s celebrated seven team victories with 4Aces, he’s been arguably the best golfer without an individual win. His last win in Texas came as a junior golfer.

He said: “I don’t like hearing those numbers, that it took me 41 times just to win out here. It took too long, I felt like, but to check two things off and win for the first time on LIV and also doing it in my home state means a lot.”

4Aces finished second behind American Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC side, who recorded a runaway 11-shot win. India’s Anirban Lahiri, a seven-time winner on the Asian Tour and the Order of Merit champion in 2015, also plays for Crushers.

 


Published on June 27, 2025

The recently revamped media hub is now the place to go to find all the Asian Tour’s multimedia assets.

We invite media and tour partners to register on the easy-to-use Digital Media Centre for fast access to the complete range of rights-free content:

·      High Resolution Tournament Photography

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The media portal is updated daily throughout tournament weeks and boasts extensive archives.

We hope this new platform helps you with your coverage of the Asian Tour, which is back in action next week at the International Series Morocco. The US$2million event starts next Thursday at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.

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Published on June 11, 2025

Bank Mandiri will title sponsor the Indonesia Open for the fourth successive year this season – the Asian Tour announced today.

The tournament, one of the region’s most enduring and prestigious National Opens, will also make a popular return to Pondok Indah Golf Course – a regular destination for the tournament over the years.

It will be played from 28-31 August and boast prizemoney of US$500,000, with the winner earning US$90,000.

Bank Mandiri and Pondok Indah Golf Course have partnered with the country’s National Open on many occasions before, with this year’s edition representing an exciting extension of the partnership.

Wisnu Trihanggodo, Senior Executive Vice President of Corporate Relation, Bank Mandiri, said: “Bank Mandiri believe in staying the course with key projects that we are associated with and our involvement with the Indonesia Open is a perfect example of this.

Steve Lewton triumphed last year. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

“It has been an honour to title sponsor the tournament since 2022 and be able to watch the tournament grow so successfully. The longevity of the event itself, the respect it has in the region as a whole and the important role it plays in helping the development of the game of golf in our country are some of the primary reasons why we see this as a preferred partnership.

“We are looking forward to another great week of golf at a famous Jakarta golf course that is rich in history, Pondok Indah Golf Course.”

The tournament, won last year by Englishman Steve Lewton – third time lucky as he was runner-up in the previous two editions – will be the ninth event of the season on the Asian Tour.

Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour, commented: “In its now regular slot, mid-way through the season, the Mandiri Indonesia Open will once again help ensure a strong pivot into the second half of the season.

“With an exemplary title sponsor in Bank Mandiri and perfect venue in Pondok Indah Golf Course the stage has been set for another great week of golf in keeping with the history of the Indonesia Open. We thank them and our friends at Persatuan Golf Indonesia for their cumulative efforts in ensuring everything is on track and ahead of schedule.”

Suharsono, Secretary-General, Persatuan Golf Indonesia (the Indonesia Golf Association), said: “We are truly grateful to Bank Mandiri for their loyal support of our National Open. We have enjoyed three excellent years working with them and their unprecedented four-year title sponsorship of our event is testament to their wish to help grow the game in Indonesia.

Nitithorn Thippong was triumphant at the Pondok Indah Golf Course in 2023. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

“We are also extremely excited to be heading back to one of Indonesia’s finest golf clubs that boasts a world-class golf course and has a long association with our flagship event, Pondok Indah Golf Course.”

Pondok Indah Golf Course last hosted the tournament in 2023, when Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong triumphed, having staged six successive tournaments from 2016.

In the 1970’s Robert Trent Jones Jnr designed the course, while it underwent a complete renovation in 2010. Located very close to Jakarta city centre, it famously hosted the World Cup of Golf in 1983 – won by the American team of John Cook and Rex Caldwell.

Said Erick Purwanto, Director of Pondok Indah Golf Course: “It is an honour for Pondok Indah Golf Course to be hosting the country’s National Open again. The tournament has played an important part in helping to shape our history and we will once again pull out all the stops to deliver a world class tournament.”

India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar is the only player to win the tournament on three occasions, with two of those victories, in 2016 and 2022, coming at Pondok Indah Golf Course.