Maybank Commits To New ADT Event In Indonesia

Kuala Lumpur, June 22 - Maybank, Malaysia’s regional financial leader, has taken on title sponsorship of a new Asian Development Tour (ADT) tournament in Indonesia. The move is part of the Bank’s commitment in supporting the development of sports across the region where it operates.

The BII Maybank ADT Challenge will be launched at Imperial Klub Golf in Jakarta from July 12 to 14, 2012 with a total prize fund of US$50,000. It will be the first time Maybank is sponsoring a tournament on the burgeoning ADT, which was introduced in 2010 as a secondary circuit in Asia to provide playing opportunities for rising stars to hone their skills before they feature on the elite Asian Tour.

Maybank is already involved with professional golf at the highest level in Asia through its successful title sponsorship of the US$2.5 million Maybank Malaysian Open, which is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.

Mohd Adam Wee Abdullah, Chief Marketing Officer, Maybank said: “We are proud to begin a new association with the ADT as we share the same goals with the Asian Tour to grow the game across the region.

“Following the success of the Maybank Malaysian Open, which we began the title sponsorship in 2006, we felt the timing was right to invest in the game at the development level, hence the birth of our new ADT event in Indonesia.

“Our extensive business presence across Southeast Asia presents a wonderful opportunity for Maybank to further expand our golf sponsorship programme and we are excited at the prospect of being involved in grooming new champions on the ADT.”

At the end of every season, the ADT rewards the top-three finishers on the Order of Merit with cards on the Asian Tour in the following year. In the inaugural year, five tournaments were staged while eight were played in 2011.

With the addition of the Maybank event, which will be held over three rounds, this season’s ADT calendar will rise to an all-time high of 12 tournaments.

Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han welcomed Maybank’s commitment to the ADT.

“On behalf of the Asian Tour, I would like to welcome Maybank as our newest title sponsor on the Asian Development Tour. Maybank’s strong involvement and support has been tremendous over the years and we are truly delighted that it will also now support the ADT,” said Han.

“The ADT plays a crucial role in the development of golfers in Asia and the addition of a new tournament in Indonesia will be welcomed by the Indonesian players as it will give them greater opportunities to compete in our events.”

A total of three ADT events have been held so far this season with newcomer Peter Richardson of England, winner of the PGM ADT Masters at A’Famosa in Malaysia earlier this month, leading the Order of Merit.