Manila: The much anticipated Aboitiz Invitational will move to a new venue in the Philippines when it returns onto the Asian Development Tour (ADT) schedule for the fifth consecutive edition next month.
The long-running event will welcome the region’s talented players, who will compete for honors in the US$100,000 ADT event at the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club, Legends course from August 5 to 8.
Defending champion Antonio Lascuna is expected to headline the event alongside 2012 ADT Order of Merit champion Jay Bayron and Elmer Salvador, who won the Aboitiz Invitational in 2012 and 2013.
Top players from across the region including Order of Merit leader Hsieh Chi-hsien of Chinese Taipei, Malaysia’s Arie Irawan and Australian Jake Stirling will also feature in the event, which is the third ADT tournament to be staged in the Philippines.
Erramon I. Aboitiz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, is delighted to extend their partnership with the ADT, which was launched in 2010 as a gateway to the Asian Tour.
“We are pleased to partner with the ADT once again to ensure the continued success of the Aboitiz Invitational. We look forward to hosting the talented players in the region and showcasing some world-class golf at the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club next month,” said Mr. Aboitiz.
Enrique K. Razon Jr., Chairman and President of Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. (PGTI), hailed the return of the Aboitiz Invitational, saying it will be another great opportunity for budding local golfers to establish themselves on the international stage.
“We believe the Aboitiz Invitational is a strong platform for aspiring professionals to further excel in the game, especially with the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points on offer on the ADT. We hope to propel players into the Olympic Games in 2016 through the staging of this event,” said Mr. Razon.
Asian Tour Associate Director Irfan Hamid lauded the strong commitment from Aboitiz to grow the game of golf in the Philippines and across the region.
“Over the years, we have witnessed tremendous success from our players on many levels and we are sure they will continue to showcase their talents at the upcoming Aboitiz Invitational. The tournament has been won by local stalwarts previously and we hope that will inspire the younger golfers to aim for more success next month,” said Irfan.
The addition of the Aboitiz Invitational brings the total to a record 24 tournaments on the ADT schedule this season. Since its inauguration in 2010, the ADT has grown from five events in the first year to 21 last year before recording 24 tournaments so far this season.
With the Olympic Games looming in 2016 where golf will be reintroduced as a medal sport, players in the region could earn their spots in Rio de Janeiro by earning OWGR points through the Asian Tour and ADT.
Local stars Que (200th) and Lascuna (246th) will be in the field for the Olympic Games based on the latest rankings.