The 72-hole stroke play event will be held at Rolling Hills Golf Course in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, from November 29 to December 2, bringing down the curtain on the ADT’s 2023 calendar in spectacular fashion and taking total ADT prize money for the season beyond the $1 million barrier.

Nabil Al-Nuaim, Chairman of the Saudi Aramco Golf Association (SAGA) and Aramco’s Senior Vice President of Digital and Information Technology, said: “Aramco has a history of over 75 years supporting golf in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We are proud to continue our tradition across the company and the Kingdom. We believe partnership with the Asian Development Tour is a natural fit with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and Aramco’s mission to promote sports, and particularly golf, among the youth of Saudi Arabia.”

Cho Minn Thant, the Asian Tour Commissioner & CEO, added: “This is wonderful news for the Asian Development Tour, the Asian Tour’s flourishing feeder circuit, and we are truly appreciative to Aramco for their support.

“I know that all those who play on the ADT will welcome this exciting news, which, I’m sure will motivate them to work even harder as they bid to progress their way onto the Asian Tour,” he added.

With the top 10 players on the ADT’s end-of-season Order of Merit earning promotion to the Asian Tour in 2024, the Saudi Aramco Invitational will prove decisive in determining who makes it through.

Cho added: “Where Energy is Opportunity is Aramco’s tagline. The Saudi Aramco Invitational will energise and provide opportunity for the region’s up-and-coming professionals, as well as elite amateur players. We’re grateful to Aramco for their vision and commitment to the development of golf.”

The 120-strong field for the Saudi Aramco Invitational will be made up of 70 players from the ADT, 40 players selected by Aramco and 10 invitees.

Thailand’s Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij triumphed in the 2022 inaugural tournament, which was also played at the Rolling Hills Golf Course.

Headquartered in Dhahran, Aramco is one of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, creating value across the hydro-carbon chain and delivering societal and economic benefits to people and communities around the globe who rely on the vital energy it supplies.

“Aramco takes great pride in sponsoring and hosting Asia’s best up-and-coming talent at our beautiful, yet challenging, golf course,” said Al-Nuaim.

“We are always seeking strategic and long-term partnerships and we look forward to further developing our relationship with the Asian Tour and Asian Development Tour.”

The post Saudi Aramco Invitational provides energy boost to the Asian Development Tour appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The Asian Development Tour (ADT) has confirmed that four events will be held in Indonesia schedule as part of the 2023 schedule.

The Indonesia Pro-Am will join three established events, the Golfpreneur Tournament, OB Golf Invitational and The Indo Masters Golf Invitational, adding to an increasingly expanded schedule.

The first event — which will run a Pro-Am competition alongside its individual event — will be played at Gunung Geulis Country Club from August 16-18, followed by the Golfpreneur Tournament, with past champions including world No. 22 Tom Kim in 2019.

The OB Golf Invitational, first played in 2018, will be hosted by Sentul Highlands Golf Club, a new venue for the event, from 6-8 October.

The Indo Masters comes to Imperial Klub Golf from 11-13 October.

“This is another important announcement for the Asian Development Tour, the Asian Tour’s incredibly important feeder circuit, that continues to flourish and confirm its essential position across our platforms,” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour.

“The addition of a Pro-Am style tournament is also an exciting development that will add another level of excitement and interest in the Tour.

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Naraajie was extending his lead when organisers called the players off the course around 11.30am due to rain and a lightning storm.

“Unfortunately we have had to cancel play for today due to the threat of lightning,” said Tournament Director Phutthisarn Sricharuviphat. “We stopped play at 11.32am and although we waited to see if the weather would improve, by the time we reached 3.15pm the committee judged there would not be enough time remaining for players to prepare and resume play so the tournament was cut to 54 holes.”

Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat finished second, three shots back at 12-under, followed by compatriot Poom Saksansin in third on -11.

“It’s a shame play was stopped early but the weather was not good,” Naraajie said. “I started the day pretty well, birdied the first hole and the fourth, so I had good momentum but there was a lot of rain and wind out there.

“It’s nice to finally get my game together this week. I’ve been playing on the Asian Tour since January but I haven’t made any cuts so it’s good to have my ‘A’ game back.

“I haven’t really made any changes to my game, but I’ve been doing a lot of meditation lately. Stepping up to the Asian Tour, which is the biggest in Asia, is quite a jump. There are a lot of really good players so I needed to upgrade and grow myself to be a better player.

“I feel I’ve got some momentum going after this week so I’m just looking to keep going and keep improving on and off the course. I have a couple of local tournaments coming up and then the next ADT tournament in July so I’m really looking forward to it.”

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