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Mercedes-Benz Tour announces nine tournament 2009 schedule
 The Mercedes-Benz Tour will tee-off in Singapore next month with a strong schedule of events in place for the new season.
A total of nine tournaments, played across six countries, will be staged starting with the Mercedes-Benz Masters Singapore, at Laguna National Golf and Country Club from March 11 to 14, and culminating in the Mercedes-Benz Masters Vietnam in November.
Prize money for the opening event has been increased from US$50,000 to US$60,000 - an increment which also applies to the Mercedes-Benz Masters Malaysia and Mercedes-Benz Masters Indonesia.
The season-ending event in Vietnam, which is the Tour Championship, will also see its purse raised to US$80,000.
“We enjoyed an excellent 2008 season and we are delighted to be able to boast another season-long line up of tournaments. Despite the challenging economic climate, we are grateful to Mercedes-Benz for its support in ensuring that we are on course for another fine year,” said AC Wong, Executive Chairman, Mercedes-Benz Tour.
The fledgling circuit was inaugurated in 2007 with the aim of providing more playing opportunities for the region’s younger players. Last year each event witnessed a strong turnout of over 100 competitors and more of the same is expected this season.
“Our concept of nurturing the stars of the future by providing them more tournament experience has been extremely well received by the corporate world and has allowed us to lay a solid foundation upon which to build,” added Wong.
Events returning to the schedule are the ICTSI Mt. Malarayat Championship, the International Championship in Indonesia, and the B-ing Championship in Thailand.
Two new tournaments, the Sabah Masters in Malaysia, and the Singha Pattaya Open in Thailand join the schedule.
Being the title sponsor of the Mercedes-Benz Tour, Mercedes-Benz continues its rich association with golf in the region.
“The values that golf represents correspond well with Mercedes-Benz’s brand values of Performance, Passion and Precision. Mercedes-Benz Tour will allow us to fulfill our commitment to nurture talented golfers in the region and support their development in the sport,” said Wolfgang Huppenbauer, President & CEO of Daimler South East Asia.
“Our involvement with the Tour has lived up to our expectations and we are extremely pleased that in such a short span of time the Mercedes-Benz Tour has achieved great respect in the game of professional golf. This year, Mercedes-Benz Tour will have the same number of events as last year with a total purse of US$510,000,” added Huppenbauer.
Last year Angelo Que of the Philippines claimed the Mercedes-Benz Tour Order of Merit title with earnings of US$32,209. He won the ICTSI Mt. Malarayat Championship and was runner up on two occasions.
Wisut Artjanawat of Thailand picked up the Players’ Player of the Year Award. The 27-year-old finished in the top 10 in all six tournaments he played, in which included victories in the Mercedes-Benz Masters Philippines in May and the Mercedes-Benz Masters Vietnam in November.
2009 Mercedes-Benz Tour Schedule:
Mercedes-Benz Masters Singapore
Laguna National Golf and Country Club
March 11 - 14
US$60,000
Singha Pattaya Open
Venue (TBC)
April 2 - 5
US$50,000
ICTSI Mt. Malarayat Championship
Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club
May 20 - 23
US$50,000
International Championship
Imperial Klub Golf, Jakarta
June 10 - 13
US$50,000
Sabah Masters
Venue TBC
June 17 - 20
US$50,000
Mercedes-Benz Masters Malaysia
Saujana Golf and Country Club
July 15 – 18
US$60,000
B-ing Championship
Venue TBC, Thailand
September 9 - 12
US$50,000
Mercedes-Benz Masters Indonesia
Emeralda Golf and Country Club
October 14 - 17
US$60,000
Mercedes-Benz Masters Vietnam
Van Tri Golf Club, Hanoi
November 5 – 8
US$80,000
February 26, 2009
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