Published on July 12, 2023

The 2023 edition of the Indonesia Open will return this year once again with Mandiri on board as the title sponsor and Jakarta’s Pondok Indah Golf Course as the host venue.

The time-honoured event – so memorably won last season by Indian star Gaganjeet Bhullar, for a record-setting third time – will be played from 3-6 August, and boasts prizemoney of US$500,000. It will be the 11^th stop of the season on the Asian Tour.

Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour, said: “We were privileged to witness a great moment in Asian golf history last year when Gaganjeet Bhullar claimed Indonesia’s national Open for a third time – something no player has achieved.

“His victory added another thrilling chapter to the tournament’s rich history. Indeed, the event has given us so many great moments and, as ever, we look forward to returning there in a few months, at the mid-point of our season. We thank Mandiri, the Indonesian Golf Association and Pondok Indah Golf Course for their much-valued support and commitment.”

The prestigious tournament is also the next event on the Asian Tour following last month’s Kolon Korea Open – where victory went to American Seungsu Han. And it precedes the Asian Tour’s trip to the UK later in the month for the International Series England and the St Andrews Bay Championship – an inaugural event, also part of this year’s 10-leg International Series.

Watershed moment for Gaganjeet Bhullar Picture by Graham Uden, Asian Tour.

Local fans will have a firm eye on their rising star Naraajie E. Ramadhanputra who, as an amateur, led after the third round in 2019, before finishing fourth behind the champion Miguel Carballo from Argentina.

The Indonesian has since turned professional and won three times on the Asian Development Tour – including this year’s season-opening Singha Phuket Open in May

Last year at Pondok Indah, Bhullar produced one of the finest rounds of his career, a bogey-free seven-under-par 65 for a formidable tournament total of 20 under and a two-shot victory over England’s Steve Lewton and Indian Rashid Khan.

The Indian put on a putting masterclass, holing brilliant birdie putts and crucial par saves, to record his 10th win on the Asian Tour and first since 2018. He has won more titles on the Asian Tour than any other player from his country. Bhullar claimed the event in 2013 and 2016 – with the latter win also at Pondok Indah.

Pondok Indah has been rated as one of Indonesia’s leading golfing courses for more than 40 years. They have hosted many international tournaments, including the World Cup of Golf in 1983, and boasts a Robert Trent Jones Jnr designed course, opened in 1976.

The Indonesia Open was able to return to the calendar last year following a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dating back to 1974, its roll of honour includes late, great American Payne Stewart (1981) and fellow Major champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland (2014).

Other international golfers who have savoured success in the championship include New Zealander Frank Nobilo, Australian Craig Parry and South African Justin Harding.

Among the famous Asian players to have had their names inscribed on the trophy are Frankie Minoza of the Philippines, Thais Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wiratchant, and Chinese Taipei’s Lu Hsi-chuen and Lu Chien-soon.

Kasiadi is the only Indonesian golfer to have lifted the trophy, his triumph coming in 1989.

Published on July 10, 2023

Cameron Smith stood on the 18th green, put his hands behind his head and closed his eyes, trying to process the conflicting range of emotions following Sunday’s dramatic finish at LIV Golf London.

He was elated to win the individual title, his second victory in 13 regular season starts since joining LIV Golf. It was a perfect way to build momentum entering his title defense in two weeks at the Open Championship.

Yet he was disappointed to have missed a six-foot putt for par that would’ve forced the first team playoff in LIV Golf history. Instead, his bogey on the final hole at Centurion Club dropped his all-Australian Ripper GC into second, one shot behind 4Aces GC, this season’s points leaders that won their second team title of the season while having to sweat out Smith’s putt.

“Obviously thrilled about the individual win, but it would’ve been nice to get up there with the boys,” said Smith, who shot a final-round three-under 68 for a winning score of 15 under. “It’s a bit of mixed emotions at the moment.”

Smith and teammate Marc Leishman, playing in the final group Sunday, were the last hope for the Rippers to catch the 4Aces, who rallied from four strokes down to start the day to take the lead at 34 under. The Rippers were at 33 under going into the final hole, the par-five 18th. Individually, Smith had a two-shot lead over the 4Aces’ Patrick Reed.

Smith was forced to lay up after his drive found the rough, but Leishman’s second shot was just off the back of the green. As Smith played his third shot, a gust of wind pushed his ball into the bunker. He blasted out to six feet. Leishman then completed his two putt for birdie, leveling the team leaderboard while finishing in a tie for second individually with Reed.

Then the unexpected happened. After a brilliant week of putting – especially on Sunday as he holed more than 105 feet of putts in his first 10 holes – Smith’s par attempt slid past the hole. His individual win was sealed, but the opportunity for the Rippers’ first team victory was lost.

“I really wanted Cam to make the one on the last there,” Leishman said. “He played great and putted great all week. To win the tournament and still walk off the green disappointed, I guess that’s what this is all about, the team format.”

The 4Aces certainly seem to have the formula for success in the team competition. Sunday’s win was their sixth regular-season team title going back to last season, and their second this season, having won in Adelaide. It also increases their lead in the team point standings to 39 points over Torque GC, the three-time tournament winners this year.

Reed provided the Aces with their lowest score of the day, a 65 that moved him to 14 under. The other two contributing scores belonged to Pat Perez, who shot a bogey-free 66, and captain Dustin Johnson with a 67 (with Peter Uihlein’s 68 not counting).

The 4Aces had started slowly on Friday, shooting just three under as a team, before shooting 31 under on the weekend. While they haven’t been as dominant as last season, they remain the team to beat through nine events. Sunday’s outcome was the latest evidence.

“We were seeing a lot of those teams getting too close to us at the top of that board,” Reed said. “I felt like as a team, we just weren’t really getting the numbers we wanted to. This week meant a lot for us to go out and make a statement.”

One of those statements involves the ability to finish off tournaments. Reed was a bogey-free seven under on his first 11 holes. Perez was four under on his last seven holes. Johnson supplied an eagle and a birdie in the back end of his round as the Aces kept cutting into the Rippers’ lead – and eventually overtaking them.

“That was the biggest thing,” Reed said. “We kept pressure on them.”

It came down to the last hole, with LIV Golf’s best putter in the spotlight. Six feet away from forcing LIV Golf’s first team playoff.

“Cam hasn’t missed one of those in his life, so I’m pretty shocked,” Perez said. “Nonetheless, it would’ve been cool. That would’ve been a separator again in golf, to have a team playoff. I think it would’ve been awesome.”

It didn’t work this time for Smith and his Rippers, but their second-place finish – the team’s best result – is something to build on.

“We showed that we’re a contender of the team stuff,” Smith said. “That’s where we want to be every week.”

Text courtesy of LIV Golf.

Published on

Chan Shih-chang will be hoping a return to the scene of the most coveted win of his career will spark a strong finish to the 2023 Asian Tour season.

After a titanic battle with Indian Rashid Khan, Chan (main picture) emerged victorious in last year’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters at the historic Taiwan Golf & Country Club.

It’s a success he’ll be aiming to repeat when the 37th edition of the US$1 million event takes place from September 28 to October 1.

Set to act as the 16th leg of the 2023 campaign, confirmation of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters means Asian Tour members can look forward to a two-week swing in the country.

A week earlier, Linkou International Golf and Country Club will be the venue for the Yeangder TPC.

Cho Minn Thant, the Asian Tour’s Commissioner & CEO, said: “The Mercuries Taiwan Masters has been a backbone event on the Asian Tour since the turn of the century and returning to the Tamsui course at Taiwan Golf & Country Club is always a pleasure for our members.

“As a popular stop on the Asian Tour for many decades, we’re delighted to be able to stage back-to-back events in Chinese-Taipei again this year.”

On the back of his defeat of Khan at the second hole of a sudden-death play-off last year, Chan placed sixth on the 2022 Order of Merit. It was the third occasion the man with five Asian Tour titles and six Asian Development Tour wins to his name had finished in the top-10 in the standings.

During the first half of 2023, though, Chan struggled for consistency, missing the cut in four of the nine events in which he competed. His best performance came in the International Series Qatar where he tied for 13th.

However, given his intimate knowledge of the tree-lined Tamsui Course that was founded in 1919, Chan will be looking to further improve on his remarkable record at the storied venue and become only the second player to make a successful title defence, after compatriot Lu Wen-teh (2007 and 2008).

Prior to his first Asian Tour victory on home soil last year, Chan tied third in the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in 2021 and equal second in 2020. Due to travel restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the tournament was not part of the Asian Tour for those two years.

The richest professional men’s golf tournament in the country, the Mercuries Taiwan Masters has been dominated by home players since its inauguration in 1987.

With four wins, Lu Wen-teh is the most successful player in the tournament’s history followed by Lu Wei-chih (three wins) and Tsai Chi-huang (two).

The most recent overseas players to triumph are Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai (2019), Brazilian Adilson da Silva (2018) and Malaysian Gavin Green (2017).

 

 

Published on June 27, 2023

Former world number five Ian Poulter, will join his long-time friend and Majesticks GC co-captain Lee Westwood, in an ever-strengthening field for the upcoming International Series England, at Close House from 17-20 August.

The fifth tournament of The International Series 2023, and 11th on the Asian Tour, can expect the flamboyant fashionista to bring some colour to the famously monochromatic city of Newcastle, and not for the first time.

Poulter has dazzled golf fans at Close House previously – the Englishman put rounds of 66, 65, 68 and 70 together to finish tied-11th on his last competitive visit in 2017.

Now looking ahead to the hotly anticipated North-eastern showdown, Poulter said: “I always enjoy the opportunity to tee-up on home turf and Close House is a fantastic venue where the crowds are packed with knowledgeable golf fans.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to witness some of the top talents of the Asian Tour first-hand in the [LIV Golf] League, especially Andy Ogletree who stepped in for Lee in DC and turned in a 62! So, I’m looking forward to my International Series debut.”

Nicknamed ‘The Postman’ for consistently delivering vital points for Team Europe in The Ryder Cup, the 47-year-old has 17 professional victories under his, often brightly coloured, belt.

Two of Poulter’s wins have come on the Asian Tour, including the 2009 Singapore Open and 2010 Hong Kong Open, the latter of which is now also among the 10 International Series events contributing to the Asian Tour schedule in 2023.

Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, said: “Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood are the definition of global golfers – having played, and won throughout the world. They are beloved by English golf fans, and anyone attending International Series England is in for a very special week.

“The International Series now regularly welcomes titans of the game, with Patrick [Reed], Eugenio [Chacarra] and Abraham [Ancer] all competing alongside Ian [Poulter] and Lee [Westwood] this August, demonstrating the strength of the Asian Tour right now.”

Tickets to the International Series England are still available from SeeTickets. Prices start from £10 for adults with free admission for under-16s when entering with a paying adult.

The International Series England is part of an exciting ‘UK summer swing’ for the Asian Tour and is followed by the St Andrews Bay Championship – being played on the Torrance Course at Fairmont St Andrews, 24-27 August.

Published on June 25, 2023

Korean-American Seungsu Han claimed the jewel in the crown of Korean golf today after recording an astonishing wire-to-wire victory in the Kolon Korea Open.

On another hot and sunny day at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club he coolheadedly handled the pressure of front running from the-get-go to close with an even-par 71 for a six under par winning total and a commanding six-shot win over Korea’s Kyungnam Kang, who also carded a 71.

Korean Seungbin Choi claimed third, a shot further back, after shooting a 68 – the best round of the day, and one of only two sub 70 rounds, on the taxing Woo Jeong Hills track.

Han’s magnificent triumph also allowed him to secure one of the two spots on offer in this year’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Kang took the other.

Any doubts that Han, who started today with a slim one-shot lead over Jaekyeong Lee from Korea, would succumb to the pressure were put to rest on the front nine when he made the turn with a five-shot lead, on seven under, ahead of Korean Junghwan Lee.

Kyungnam Kang. Picture courtesy KGA Tournament Committee.

It was just the cushion he was looking for despite an up and down front nine, consisting of three birdies and two bogeys. His lead was seven at one point on the back nine with the rest of the field going backwards while he was coasting.

He averted a potential disaster on the par-four 15th after a wayward tee shot left saw his ball finish in a terrible lie – in long, thick grass. Bravely opting not to take a drop he hit an explosive recovery shot back into play, reached the green with his third and to the roar of the crowd holed a 30 footer for an astonishing par save – affirming this was most certainly his week, and the greatest of his career so far.

His lead was cut to six on the ensuing hole after a bogey and by the 18^th he was five ahead, but he put the icing on the cake by holing a six-foot birdie putt on the par-five 18^th.

“This is such a great honour,” said Han, the 36 year old who was born in Incheon, Korea, but moved to the United States when he was 13, where he still lives, and first started to play in Asia back in 2010, enjoying most of his success in Japan.

“I was really struggling with foot pains and my throat wasn’t good either, so it was tremendously challenging.  I hardly looks at the scores, maybe a few times. I didn’t look at it on purpose. It was about being mentally strong and my putting was great, I holed some long ones.

“I first started playing in Korea when I was 13, so the Korea Open means a lot to me. I think it is the best tournament in Korea.”

Remarkably he was the only player to finish under par, and for his fine effort he earned a cheque for US$222,222.

He becomes the 12^th wire to wire winner of the tournament, and the seventh American to win after Ricky Fowler (2011), Edward Loar (2004), John Daly (2003), Mike Cunning (1994), Scott Hoch (1990 and 1991), and Orville Moody, who won the first three editions of the event starting in 1958.

Han’s six-shot winning margin also matched the record set by Fowler, based on records going back to 1996.

It is the biggest victory of his 14-year professional career, although his other wins were also significant: the Casio World Open in Japan in 2017, and the 2020 LG Signature Players Championship on the Korean PGA Tour.

He also enjoyed success in the amateur game, attending the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and winning the 2006 Porter Cup – a long-standing, prestigious amateur event in the United States won by some of the game’s biggest names, including Phil Mickelson, David Duval and Ben Crenshaw.

Kyungnam Kang and Seungsu Han both qualified for The Open. Picture courtesy KGA Tournament Committee.

While it will be the second time he has played in a Major – he made the cut in the PGA Championship in 2018 – it will be 11-time Korean Tour winner Kang’s maiden appearance.

Defending champion Minkyu Kim of Korea returned a 73 to tie for fourth on two over par with countrymen Dongmin Lee, Jaekyeong Lee and Junghwan Lee, and Australian Brendan Jones – this year’s New Zealand Open champion.

This week’s KRW1,400,000,000 (approximately US$1,075,000) event was the 10^th stop of the season on the Asian Tour.

Published on June 21, 2023

Sergio Garcia and Joaquin Niemann will be aiming to maintain their major momentum when they line-up in the Asian Tour’s inaugural St Andrews Bay Championship. 

Spaniard Garcia and Chile’s Niemann both made the cut in last week’s US Open at Los Angeles Country Club and are looking to continue their good form in the second half of 2023. 

Garcia’s fellow former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa and Chile’s Mito Pereira have also confirmed their places in the starting line-up at Fairmont St Andrews from August 24-27. 

 The US$1.5 million St Andrews Bay Championship will be the 12th leg of the 2023 Asian Tour season and the sixth stop on The International Series. 

“As our first tournament in the country that gave golf to the world, the St Andrews Bay Championship promises to be a momentous week for us,” said Cho Minn Thant, Asian Tour Commissioner & CEO. 

“It’s fitting, therefore, that we should have Major champions such as Sergio and Charl and players of the calibre of Joaquin and Mito to grace this auspicious occasion.” 

Garcia, who tied for 27th in Los Angeles last week, has appeared regularly in Asian Tour events over the past two decades and has the distinction of having won titles in no fewer than six different countries – China, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.  

Part of the Asian Tour’s 2023 ‘UK Summer Swing’, the St Andrews showpiece will be preceded by the International Series England, at Close House in Newcastle. 

The Asian Tour’s elite-level International Series comprises 10 events, featuring elevated prize funds and welcoming top golfers from every continent and Tour. 

On his International Series debut in February, Garcia tied for fifth in Oman, alongside Niemann. 

Following the first four International Series events of 2023, American Andy Ogletree leads the way in the overall standings with Japan’s Takumi Kanaya, Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent and Australian Wade Ormsby in pursuit. 

Callum Nicoll, Director of Golf & Estates at Fairmont St Andrews, said: “We’re thrilled that established stars such as Sergio, Charl, Mito and Joaquin will be competing in this historic and world-class event at Fairmont St Andrews.”  

Stretching to 7,320 yards, the Torrance Course at Fairmont, set among 520 acres of stunning Scottish coastline with views of St Andrews Bay, is sure to provide a tough test. 

Sculpted by European Ryder Cup legend Sam Torrance, the layout has previously hosted the DP World Tour and European Seniors Tour as well as being a venue for Open Qualifying. 

 

Published on June 20, 2023

Two-time Asian Tour winner Nitithorn Thippong will be looking for redemption when he tees off in the Kolon Korea Open at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club on Thursday – having had an impressive run at the title last year before being struck by sickness on Sunday.

Opening rounds of 69, 74 and 68 saw him in contention throughout the week and meant he was just three off the lead starting the final day in the country’s most-esteemed tournament, which has made its regular home at the Woo Jeong Hills venue since 2003.

Nitithorn, the young Thai star nicknamed “Fever” who was red-hot last year when he won both his Asian Tour titles – The DGC Open presented by Mastercard and the International Series Singapore – shot a six-over-par 77 on the last day after a calamitous run of holes from the eighth, which he double bogeyed and followed up with six bogeys and no gains on the second half.

Much to his disappointment he tied for 22^nd, eight shots behind the score that saw Koreans Minkyu Kim and Mingyu Cho tie for the lead to force a three-hole play-off, won by the former.

It also meant Nitithorn missed out on one of the two places available in The Open, something which is also a target for all the competitors this week, as the event is again part of The Open Qualifying Series.

However, the story does not end there.

Nitithorn Thippong.

Said Nitithorn: “When I woke up for the final round, I felt a bit sick, but still I had the patience that I could do it because my goal was to be at The Open. Unfortunately, I had a fever, but I played really well on the first seven holes, and I was really focused on my game.”

Having played the first seven holes in two under, one of The Open tickets was within his grasp, but as his health struggled so did his score.

“I knew that I had to be like, super focused that day, because my body was not active,” he said.

“But after the eighth hole where I made a double bogey, it can happen but you… I don’t know how to say it, after eight holes I tried to be like, keep focused, keep patient, but my body wasn’t working anymore, not responding anymore. Like on the 14th tee I said to my caddie, I cannot walk anymore. But okay, just hit it until I finish, that’s all I could do at that time.”

The reason for the unfortunate turn of events was soon to be revealed.

Said Nitithorn: “Yeah, I went to do a test after the round, I tested positive for COVID-19, so I felt so sorry for everyone. I felt bad that I didn’t play as well as I expected, but I had already done my best, you know. So yeah, I had already done my best and had a good chance to be at The Open, but this year maybe I can do it.”

This week he is fully committed to taking his revenge on the difficult Woo Jeong Hills layout, encouraged by his tied 11^th at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open at Nam Seoul Country Club in Korea earlier this season.

“The first year that I played in Korea, even the Maekyung Open, the course is quite difficult. But for me, I really love difficult courses because you have to hit the ball in the fairway, and you have to be patient on every shot,” said the 26 year old.

“I got beaten by the course on the first year, so I just said to myself that’s okay, next time I’ll beat it. This year, I have already beaten Nam Seoul so I’m gonna try to beat Woo Jeong Hills, that’s my goal.”

Published on June 19, 2023

To the victor the spoils. With a mature final-round display and an explosive extra-time finish, Minkyu Kim (main picture) grabbed the glory at the 64th edition of the Kolon Korea Open.

Four years after making global headlines with victory in the D+D Real Czech Challenge to become the European Challenge Tour’s youngest winner at the age of 17, Kim finally triumphed on home soil for the first time.

“I can’t believe I’ve actually won,” said Kim, who had posted seven top-10s in his previous 10 starts.

“I’ve come close to winning before (in Korea) and I wondered if I would ever win. I felt good on the back nine and started to feel I had a chance.”

While 21-year-old Kim celebrated his success at the notoriously demanding Woo Jeong Hills Country Club, it was difficult not to spare a thought for Mingyu Cho.

Minkyu Kim. Picture courtesy KGA.

Twelve years Kim’s senior and a two-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour, Cho was left to fathom how another significant triumph eluded him after two bites at the cherry.

Three shots ahead of Kim in a share of the third-round lead with fellow-Korean Taehoon Ok, Cho had a 20-foot birdie putt on the last hole of regulation to overhaul clubhouse leader Kim, who had surged to the top of the standings with a closing 69.

With his courageous effort narrowly missing the cup, Cho signed for a one-over 72, matching Kim’s 72-hole aggregate of four-under-par 280, a score illustrating the degree of difficulty of the course.

Despite the disappointment of failing to close the deal, a play-off with Kim presented Cho with a second opportunity to add his name to the illustrious list of past Korea Open champions, including YE Yang, Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia and John Daly.

Once more, though, fortune would conspire against Cho.

While the vast majority of golf tournaments that require a play-off opt for a sudden-death solution, the Kolon Korea Open plumps for a mini tournament format with the combined score of each player over three additional holes being adopted.

In this case it proved to be a cruel quirk of fate for Cho who would have been crowned champion on the second extra hole, the 17th, if sudden-death was being used to determine the outcome.

Mingyu Cho. Picture courtesy KGA.

Instead, Cho, on the back of pars at 16 and 17, arrived at the tee of the par-five 18th with a one-stroke advantage over Kim, who made bogey at 17.

An errant drive from Cho forced him to punch his ball back into play, while Kim struck two mighty blows through the back of the green.

With the momentum having switched, Cho’s third found the edge of the green from where he struck a poor chip to 25 feet and was unable to save par.

That left the way clear for Kim who gleefully got up-and-down for the most important birdie of his career, that two-stroke final-hole swing in his favour proving decisive.

Cho could only shrug. “Winning is a difficult task. I will move on,” said Cho, who at least had the not inconsiderable consolation of securing one of the two spots on offer for The 150th Open Championship at St Andrews in July. “I’m now planning to go and play in Europe for the first time. I’m sure, I’ll learn a lot.”

Like Cho, Hyungjoon Lee and American Jarin Todd were left with regrets.

Playing in the penultimate group, Lee looked set for victory when he headed to the 18th hole with a one-shot lead only for his hopes to fall apart with a double-bogey seven after going out-of-bounds.

He had to content himself with a joint-third finish alongside Todd, one stroke shy of joining the play-off.

Following the second round, Todd was asked about his prospects. He said: “I’d rather take The Open spot than the win this week, because it’s going to be at the Old Course at St Andrews and it’s on every golfer’s bucket list.”

Although he missed out this time, Todd and his fellow Asian Tour members were simply pleased to have the Kolon Korea Open back on the calendar following a two-year hiatus due to Covid.

Story from the 2022 Asian Tour Yearbook.

Published on June 16, 2023

The Asian Development Tour (ADT) will return to one of its most popular and regular destinations this year after confirming today that four events in Indonesia have been included on the schedule.

The Indonesia Pro-Am Presented by Combiphar & Nomura – an innovative and exciting new event benefitting from the support of a duo of strong, existing tournament partners – and three established events, the BNI Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament, the OB Golf Invitational and The 2nd Indo Masters Golf Invitational presented by TNE, will be staged mid-season adding to an increasingly expanded schedule.

The first event – which in addition to the individual tournament will feature a Pro-Am competition – will be played at Gunung Geulis Country Club from August 16-18. Total prizemoney will be US$125,000, while there is a pot of US$25,000 for the Pro-Am. The venue’s West and East Courses will be utilised.

The US$125,000 BNI Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament – won last year by impressive Thai golfer Suteepat Prateeptienchai, the 2022 ADT Order of Merit (OOM) winner following a hat-trick of victories – will return to Damai Indah Golf, BSD Course, from 23-26 August.  This year will mark the eighth edition of the tournament.

Sutteepat Prateeptienchai, won last year’s Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament and the ADT Order of Merit title. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

In 2019 Tom Kim, the young Korean star now ranked 22nd on the Official World Golf Ranking, and a two-time winner on the PGA Tour competing in this week’s US Open, claimed the Ciputra event – firing a warning shot to the world of golf that he was coming. Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament

The US$70,000 OB Golf Invitational, first played in 2018, will be hosted by Sentul Highlands Golf Club, a new venue for the event, from 6-8 October.

The country’s rising star Naraajie E. Ramadhanputra (main picture) triumphed in the event last year, helping to launch an outstanding start to his professional career, as he also won the inaugural PIF Saudi Open later in the year, before finishing third on the Final ADT OOM to secure, along with Suteepat, full playing privileges on this year’s Asian Tour – a reward bestowed on the top-10 finishers on the Merit list. The young Indonesian has also been in fine form this season, securing the Singha Phuket Open in May – the ADT’s season-opening event, jointly sanctioned with the All Thailand Golf Tour.

The 2nd Indo Masters Golf Invitational presented by TNE – which, like the Indonesia Pro-Am and OB Golf Invitational, is promoted by OB Golf, the organiser of the country’s most lucrative golf tournament the Indonesian Masters, on the Asian Tour and part of The International Series – completes the four events and will be hosted by Imperial Klub Golf, from 11-13 October. The purse will be US$70,000. Australian Harrison Gilbert lifted the trophy in 2022.

“This is another important announcement for the Asian Development Tour, the Asian Tour’s incredibly important feeder circuit, that continues to flourish and confirm its essential position across our platforms,” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour.

Australian Harrison Gilbert pictured after winning last year’s Indo Masters Golf Invitational.

“OB Golf are a long standing and wonderfully supportive partner, and we also thank Ciputra, the Professional Golf Tour of Indonesia, and the respective sponsors and venues for their much-welcomed involvement.

“The addition of a Pro-Am style tournament is also an exciting development that will add another level of excitement and interest in the Tour. Further schedule updates will be announced in due course.”

The next event on the ADT is the inaugural ADT – All Thailand Partnership Trophy, which will be staged at Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club, Mountain/Ocean Course, 6-9 July.