The Asian Development Tour will enjoy a two-week swing in the Philippines this month, thanks to the outstanding support of long-time title sponsor, the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI).
The inaugural ICTSI Eagle Ridge Invitational and ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic will offer prize funds of US$60,000 for each tournament where rising stars from the Philippines will compete against an international field from the ADT, which is the gateway to the premier Asian Tour.
The inclusion of the two ICTSI-backed tournaments will raise the number of events on the ADT to 20 this season. The ADT was launched in 2010 with five tournaments and was granted Official World Golf Ranking status in 2013.
The two-week swing in the Philippines will begin with the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Invitational which will take place at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club from April 15-18 next week, followed by the ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic, slated to tee off at the Sherwood Hills Golf Club from April 22-25 the week after.
Enrique K. Razon, Jr., ICTSI Chairman and President, said: âWe are delighted to continue our partnership with the ADT, which is a good platform for upcoming players to showcase their talents and launch their careers onto the Asian Tour.
âWe hope the Filipino golfers will make use of the playing opportunities on home soil to gain experience and pick up valuable Official World Golf Ranking points, which is important in the race to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.â
Irfan Hamid, the Asian Tourâs Associate Director, lauded the strong commitment and support from ICTSI, saying that sponsors have a major role to play in growing professional golf in the Philippines and across the region.
âOn behalf of the ADT, I would like to thank ICTSI for their unwavering support over the years. The ADT has grown since its inauguration in 2010 and we have been successful in providing a clear pathway for upcoming players to gain access onto the Asian Tour,â said Irfan.
âIn our short history, we have witnessed numerous milestones on the ADT and we are confident our players will continue to make full use of the playing opportunities to become top golfers. It would be fantastic if some of our ADT members qualify for the Olympic Games next year, which is a very strong possibility.â
A total of 144 players will compete in each event in the Philippines, with the field split between the ADT and the Philippine Golf Tour, which is also backed by the ICTSI.
The ICTSI Eagle Ridge Invitational and ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic will be the seventh and eighth leg of the 2015 ADT season respectively.
Since it was inaugurated in 2010, the ADT has grown from five events in the first year to a record 21 tournaments in 2014. The ADT will reward the top-five finishers on the Order of Merit at the end of this season with Asian Tour cards for 2016.
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 Official World Golf Ranking points through the Asian Tour and ADT.
For more information on the ADT, please visit www.asiandevelopmenttour.com
