February 5: This season’s ASEAN PGA Tour will boast at least 11 tournaments offering nearly US$1 million in overall prize money thanks to one of its strongest schedules.
Commencing with the Singha Esan Open in March, one of four tournaments jointly sanctioned with the All Thailand Golf Tour, the 2014 ASEAN PGA Tour will traverse the region with an emphasis on providing playing opportunities for up and coming players.
The Singha Pattaya Open, the Singha Hua Hin Open, and the Singha Chiang Mai Open, all part of the All Thailand Golf Tour, return to the schedule.
In addition three events will be jointly sanctioned with the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour in Melaka, Penang, and Negeri Sembilan.
The Laos Open, which was inaugurated in 2012, returns to the schedule as does the Palembang Musi Championship and Gowa Classic in Indonesia.
The season will come to a close in January of 2015 with the Sabah Masters, an event which over the past two years has cemented its place as the season-ending Tour Championship.
Indeed, the success of the Sabah Masters recently led its main sponsor the Sabah Tourism Board to announce its support for the event for another three years starting in 2015.
“This year marks the eighth season of the ASEAN PGA Tour and its success is because it continues to be enthusiastically embraced by players, sponsors and tours,” said AC Wong, Executive Chairman, ASEAN PGA.
It has been a prolific rise for the ASEAN PGA Tour which boasted five events when it was launched in 2007.
“The Tour is continually looking to expand in to new markets and is hopeful of announcing additional events in 2014, ” added Wong.
The 2013/2014 came to a close last month when Thailand’s Wisut Artjanawat won the Sabah Masters at Sutera Harbour Golf and Country Club.
The tournament also saw his compatriot Kwanchai Tannin claim the Order of Merit title.
He topped the Merit list, and secured a OneAsia card, with earnings of US$35,630 – an ASEAN PGA Tour record.
World Sport Group are the Official Commercial Partner for the ASEAN PGA Tour and will continue to produce a one-hour highlight show for each event on FOX Sports.
2014 ASEAN PGA Tour Schedule Singha Esan Open March 27 to 30 Singha Park Golf Club, Khon Kaen, Thailand US$ 100,000 Defending champion: Prayad Marksaeng (THA)
Singha Pattaya Open Burapha Golf Club, Thailand May 8 to 11 US$100,000 Defending champion: Kwanchai Tannin (THA) PGM-ASEAN PGA A’Famosa Masters A’Famosa Golf Resort, Melaka, Malaysia May 28 to 31 US$60,000 Defending champion: Mardan Mamat (SIN)
Singha Hua Hin Open Royal Hua Hin Golf Club, Thailand July 17 to 20 US$65,000 Defending champion: Phachara Khongwatmai (amateur) (THA)
PGM-ASEAN PGA Penang Classic Penang Golf Club, Malaysia August 6 to 9 US$60,000 Defending champion: Shaaban Hussin (MAS)
Singha Chiang Mai Open Mae Jo Golf Club and Resort, Thailand August 21 to 24 US$65,000 Defending champion: Thammanoon Sriroj (THA) PGM-ASEAN PGA Staffield Championship Staffield Country Resort, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia October 15 to 18 US$60,000 Defending champion: Kwanchai Tannin (THA)
Sabah Masters Sutera Harbour Golf & Country Club, Malaysia January (Specific Dates TBA) US$75,000 Defending champion: Wisut Artjanawat (THA)
Palembang Musi Championship Palembang Golf Club, Indonesia Date TBA US$150,000 Defending champion: Nicholas Fung (MAS)
Gowa Classic Padivalley Golf Club, Indonesia Date TBA US$100,000 Defending champion: Annop Tangkamolprasert (THA)
Laos Open Venue TBA Date TBA US$100,000 Defending champion: Namchok Tantipokhakul (THA)
Asean PGA Tour backup site 