Thai Wisut Artjanawat will defend his ASEAN PGA Tour Order of Merit title this year.

Singapore (January 17): The ASEAN PGA Tour will offer its membership the highest overall purse in its six-year history this season as it will boast 10 events worth US$640,000.

The ASEAN PGA Tour, which has become popular particularly with up-and-coming professionals in the region, will tee off with the Bali International Pro Am from March 1-3.

The Bali event is one of three new tournaments on the schedule and the exciting destination will set the tone for another thrilling year which will culminate with the Sabah Masters in November.

In a landmark development, the Tour will also head to Laos for the first time to stage the inaugural Luang Prabang Lao Open and the Phuket Charity Pro Am will also make its debut.

Returning to the schedule are the Singha Pattaya Open and Singha Esan Open, the Palembang Musi Championship and the Ancora Classic.

AC Wong, Executive Chairman, ASEAN PGA, said: “Since launching the ASEAN PGA in September of 2007 we have been in the fortunate position to announce a strong schedule each year. We were able to stage five events in the latter stages of that memorable first year and today it is wonderful to have at least 10 tournaments with an overall purse of US$640,000.

“The arrival of three new tournaments this year is a reflection of the interest and confidence that exists in the ASEAN PGA. More importantly this is wonderful news for the young professional golfers in ASEAN who have embraced our Tour since day one. The fact that we are heading to Laos for the first time is also a truly inspiring development.”

Last year, Thai Wisut Artjanawat took the lion’s share of the trophies on the ASEAN PGA Tour. The talented golfer won the Order of Merit title with winnings of US$24,001 and was voted the Player of the Year by his peers. Wisut claimed the Palembang Musi Championship and then the Sabah Masters to become the first player to win four times on the ASEAN PGA Tour and also the first to win back-to-back titles.

Rising Malaysian star Nicholas Fung finished second on the Merit list and along with Indonesian number one Rory Hie they are examples of the wealth of talent that exists on the Tour.

Wisut’s Order of Merit victory has earned him a place in this year’s Barclays Singapore Open and he will be joined by other leading players from this year’s Merit list, in line with one of the ASEAN PGA’s main objectives which is to provide its members with the opportunity to play in some of the biggest events in the region. The top-10 players from the 2012 Merit list will also earn playing privileges on OneAsia for 2013.

The ASEAN PGA Tour will once again work hand-in-hand with local promoters Sport Management Group (SMG) and Tropical Hospitality Management (THM) in Thailand, and GOLFetc and Ancora in Indonesia. World Sport Group (WSG) remains as the official commercial partner for the ASEAN PGA Tour. WSG’s television arm will continue to produce a one-hour highlight show for each event which will be broadcast on ESPN Star Sports.

Chris Jordan, WSG’s Senior Vice President, Golf, said: “The ASEAN PGA has been a success on all fronts. Interest from the corporate sector is as strong as ever while we continue to see the best players, whether young or old, regularly compete and perform to the highest standard. We are excited to be working with our friends at the ASEAN PGA and we are extremely confident that this year will be the finest so far.”

2012 ASEAN PGA TOUR SCHEDULE

MARCH 1-3: Bali International Pro Am, New Kuta Golf & Ocean View, US$60,000

MARCH 22-25: Singha Pattaya Open, Burapha Golf Club, Thailand, US$50,000

APRIL 26-29: Luang Prabang Lao Open, Luang Prabang Golf Club, Laos, US$80,000

JUNE 21-24: Phuket Charity Pro Am, Venue TBC, Thailand, US$50,000

JULY 5-8 Malaysian Tournament (TBA)

AUGUST 30-SEPTEMBER 2: Singha Esan Open, Singha Park Golf Club, Khon Kaen, Thailand, US$50,000

OCTOBER 11-14: Palembang Musi Championship, Palembang Golf Club, Indonesia, US$75,000

OCTOBER 18-21: Ancora Classic, Emeralda Golf & Country Club, Jakarta, Indonesia, US$50,000

NOVEMBER 1-4: Sabah Masters, Sutera Harbour Golf & Country Club, Malaysia, US$60,000