RISING ASEAN PLAYERS RECEIVE GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY INAUGURAL SIME DARBY LPGA MALAYSIA
Kuala Lumpur, Monday August 2 2010 - The Sime Darby Group and event organisers IMG today confirmed that the inaugural Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia will offer female golfers from Malaysia and ASEAN nations the chance to take on the world's best through two qualifying tournaments in the coming weeks.
A regional qualifying event involving ASEAN golfers will be played over the renovated East Course at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) on August 9-10, with the domestic Malaysian qualifier to follow at the same venue on September 28-29.
Both events will be contested over two days and 36 holes and each qualifier will offer two priceless exemptions into the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia. The tournament, which will offer a purse of US$1.8 million at KLGCC from October 22-24, already boasts superstars Michelle Wie, Cristie Kerr and Natalie Gulbis as confirmed participants.
More than 20 players from Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Myanmar will converge on KLGCC early next week, when the regional qualifier tees off. While 13 Malaysians including Kelly Tan, Ainil Johan Abu Bakar and Isza Fariza Ismail will headline the field, the Thai contingent of professionals - Tiranan Yoopan, Porani Chutichai, Tanaporn Kongkiatkrai and Kurita Srisomrit - will provide tough competition.
Said 16-year-old Tan, who plays off a handicap of two: "I am working very hard on being ready for next week's qualifier, which is an amazing opportunity. It will be very tough as it is a strong field, especially with the Thai girls, but to have the chance to play with the world's best players and represent Malaysia at the first Sime Darby LPGA is a huge honour for me."
The successful players from both qualifiers will account for four of the 10 sponsors' exemptions on offer for the showcase event, which will also feature the top 50 players from the LPGA money list. The first two sponsor invites were last week accepted by local Malaysian stars Cindy Lee-Pridgen and Jean Chua.
Dato' Tunku Putra Badlishah, Director of Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club said, "We believe the Sime Darby LPGA will be a centrepiece around which we can develop women's golf in Malaysia. With these qualifying events, we are not only giving the current crop of top players the opportunity to compete against the world's very best, but we are also showing the next generation of stars that there is a pathway to the top for them through the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia."
Added Robbie Henchman, Senior Vice President of IMG: "From the outset, Sime Darby is committed to using this tournament as an opportunity to support and grow golf in Malaysia and the region. By offering four places in this landmark event to Malaysian and regional golfers, Sime Darby continues to deliver on this commitment and will ensure that the event leaves a longstanding legacy for women's golf."
The Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia is a three-day stroke play event with no cut, ensuring that players are in Kuala Lumpur for the tournament duration and the local and regional golf community can catch their favourite golfers in action the entire week.
