National Qualifiers to take place in November 2014 as part of tournament’s commitment to highest number of local golfers in a co-sanctioned international tournament
Kuala Lumpur, 11 November 2014: Danny Chia, Nicholas Fung and Shaaban Hussin are among the twelve (12) players who have qualified to play at the upcoming Maybank Malaysian Open 2015, Malaysia’s leading National Open. The top Malaysian players on the Asian Tour as well as the Professional Golf of Malaysia Order of Merit and members of the Professional Golf Association of Malaysia will join a field of 156 players consisting of the world’s leading golfers at the event from February 5th – 8th, 2015 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC).
The Malaysian names announced today are not required to compete for a spot at this national Open at the National Qualifiers that will be held from the November 18th – 19th, 2014 at KLGCC as they have already qualified through their rankings. Four (4) additional spots are being vied for at the two-day National Qualifiers that will see 100 golfers competing for the privilege of participating in the Maybank Malaysian Open. 2015 will also mark the 10th anniversary of Maybank’s title sponsorship of the National Open.
The Maybank Malaysian Open offers the highest number of spots for Malaysian golfers in a co-sanctioned international golfing event in the country. As a joint initiative by the Malaysian Golf Association (MGA), Maybank and GlobalOne to provide Malaysian sportsmen the opportunity to compete in world class events, twenty-two (22) spots up for grabs and these are divided among the ten (10) players from the Asian Tour and PGM Tour; four (4) winners from the National Qualifiers; 3 sponsors invite, one (1) of which is the winner from the Maybank Tour Championship and the participation of four (4) amateurs who are selected by MGA through their own merits. Gavin Kyle Green has already secured his spot among the four (4) amateurs. The final two (2) invitational spots with the remaining three (3) amateur spots are expected to be announced by mid-January 2015.
Names of players joining the Maybank Malaysian Open 2015 from the ranking in order of merit are Nicholas Fung, Danny Chia, Iain Steel, Shaaban Hussin and Ben Leong are from the Asian Tour and R. Nachimuthu, Airil Rizman Zahari, Sukree Othman, Khor Kheng Hwai, Kemarol Baharin from the PGM tour and lastly, Arie Fauzi, invitee courtesy of Maybank.
This year, golfers are battling for more than bragging rights as Maybank has upped the ante as it marks the tenth year milestone as the event’s title sponsor. Strengthening its long-standing commitment as one of the oldest National Opens in the region, Maybank is increasing the prize purse for 2015 to US$3 million, up from the previous US$2.75 million in 2014.
Ranking points earned at the Maybank Malaysian Open will go towards the Asian Tour Order of Merit and will also count towards European Tour’s Race to Dubai at the end of 2015.
Over the years, the Maybank Malaysian Open has attracted world-class golfers from all over and has made its mark with past performances by the likes of Peter Thomson, Vijay Singh, Padraig Harrington, Retief Goosen, Michael Campbell and Sir Nick Faldo joining the field of play here.
For tournament updates and details of the event please visit:-
www.maybankmalaysianopen.com
www.facebook.com/MaybankMalaysianOpen
For any media editorial enquiries on Maybank Malaysian Open, please contact:
Fione Wong
Arcis Communications
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About Maybank
The Maybank Group is South East Asia’s fourth largest bank by assets. It has an international network of over 2400 offices in 20 countries namely Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong SAR & People’s Republic of China, Bahrain, Uzbekistan, Myanmar, Laos, Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia, Great Britain and the United States of America. The Group offers an extensive range of products and services, which includes consumer and corporate banking, investment banking, Islamic banking, stock broking, insurance and takaful and asset management. It has over 47,000 employees serving more than 22 million customers worldwide. (www.maybank.com)
About the Malaysian Golf Association
The Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) is the sole governing body of golf in Malaysia that was founded in 1929 by representatives of golf clubs to promote the sport while preserving its traditions and integrity. The non-government organization is run by passionate volunteers who have a love for the game of golf, with the help of a team of management staff. The association’s portfolios have increased over the years ranging from conducting 14 state amateur opens, national amateur open, national amateur close, Malaysian Open to processing handicaps through its National Handicap System to promoting grassroots programs and training of athletes to represent Malaysia in international events.
The European Tour
The European Tour is committed to celebrating the game of golf from the origins of the professional game, building a proud history of achievement, sportsmanship and integrity as well as showcasing our diverse global talent and rich landscapes. The European Tour’s innovative approach enables us to embrace the world, combining championships of tradition with new tournaments in the cities and countries of the future. The European Tour International Schedule, which from 2009 has incorporated The Race to Dubai, is a thriving global brand which, in 2013, will feature a minimum of 45 tournaments spread across all five continents of the world; the European Challenge Tour focuses on the up and coming players of the future; while the European Senior Tour provides a new start for champions celebrating their 50th birthday. The European Tour’s corporate identity features the iconic silhouette image of six-time Open Champion Harry Vardon who gives his name to The Harry Vardon Trophy, presented to the player who is crowned European Tour Number One and winner of The Race to Dubai at the end of the season.
About the Asian Tour
As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. The Asian Tour has offices in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Also, visit us atwww.asiantour.com, www.facebook.com/asiantourgolf,www.twitter.com/asiantourgolf, www.youtube.com/theasiantour andwww.weibo.com/asiantourgolf.
About Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club
Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) is a member of Sime Darby Property Bhd and a propriety Club wholly-owned and operated by KLGCC Berhad. The club has won numerous accolades from both local and foreign golfing fraternity, the latest being recognised as Number One and Two top golf courses in Malaysia for 2014 by US Golf Digest, voted the ‘Best Course in Malaysia’ for the second time in a row for its championship West Course at the 2013 Asian Golf Monthly Awards, the second runner up for the Best Championship Course in Asia Pacific and nominated as Top 10 Best in Asia Pacific for Best Clubhouse and Best Pro-Shop categories. At the same time, KLGCC was voted Best Golf Experience for the Best of Malaysia Awards 2013 Travel Awards by The Expatriate Lifestyle Magazine readers. Today, KLGCC is a landmark as the most luxurious golf resort development in Malaysia and KLGCC has in recent years hosted numerous international championships such as the Maybank Malaysian Open and the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia.
About GlobalOne
GlobalOne (Emerald Evolution Holdings Sdn Bhd) is an executive lifestyle sports promoter and we create sports event ownerships.
We specialise in providing the full spectrum in sponsorship event management and have an excellent track record in planning and delivering on PGA European Tour golf events for Malaysia (Maybank Malaysian Open), Singapore (Singapore Masters) and Indonesia (Indonesia Open) since 1999. We have strong relations with sports governing bodies, the media and commercial sponsors and technical partners to deliver on the bottom line.
We assist all our clients to create super-strategic, high-return, best practice sponsorship to provide a strong, unified vision, across departments and stakeholders, of the broad range of marketing and business objectives that can be achieved through this sponsorship. We also form and maintain strong relationship with players’ managers to source the best players.
GlobalOne currently stages a highly successful and prestigious tournament in Asia – the Maybank Malaysian Open, which is co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the Asian Tour providing the event with Official World Ranking status. Our long term partners include Emirates (Official Airline), Carlsberg (Official Beer & Stout), Ricoh (Official Office Equipment), Astro (Official Satellite TV), Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia (Official Car), DoubleTree (Official Hotel), 100Plus (Official Isotonic Beverage), Crestlink (Official Apparel), Transview Golf (Official Golf Accessories & Equipment), Mal-Tel (Official Radio & Communications), Spritzer (Official Water), Singleton (Official Whisky), Srixon (Official Range Balls), Havana (Official Cigars).