Indonesia to move events to Asian PGA
Indonesia to move events to Asian PGA
JAKARTA (Agencies): The Indonesia PGA on Wednesday switched
their top three tournaments, worth more than US$750,000, from the
Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation to the rival Asian PGA tour.
"We were concerned that the fields for our tournaments in
Indonesia were seeing fewer and fewer Asian players," said Bob
Hasan, vice president of the Indonesian players' association.
"We look forward to seeing and competing with Asia's finest
golfers and are totally in support of the principles and
objectives of the Asian PGA," said Hassan.
Indonesia and Malaysia were the only two PGAs in Asia who
declined to join the Kuala Lumpur-based regional body when it
launched its Omega Tour in July 1995. The body keep the majority
of tour places for Asian players.
The move is a blow to the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation,
whose rival tour is made up of national golf Opens. The APGC
listed the Indonesian PGA Championship and the Indonesian and
Bali Opens as part of its 1997 schedule.
"The Bali Open will remain on the Asian Tour," Indonesia Golf
Association Secretary-General Taufic Aziz said. Adding that
letter of confirmation will be sent to APGC this week to clarify
that the Bali Open is exclusively sanctioned and associated with
the Asian Tour.
The move also isolates the Malaysian PGA, led by 1998
Commonwealth Games chief Tan Sri Hashim Ali, which faces a
December hearing on a restraint-of-trade court action brought by
three professionals who were suspended after competing in Asian
PGA events in Malaysia.
The switch of allegiance takes effect immediately, according
to the Asian PGA, with the Indonesian PGA Championship between
Nov. 28 and Dec. 1 contributing to the 1996 Omega Tour Order of
Merit, currently led by South Korean Kano Wook-soon.
The Asian Tour announced that three new events will be added
to the 1997 schedule. The highlight will be the $400,000 Asian
Masters at the Rovert Trent Jones Jr. designed Sunrise Golf &
Country Club in Taiwan in November 1997. The other two events
will take place in Taiwan at the end of September and Malaysia in
the second week of October.
Asian Tour executive director John Benda, explained that the
Tour will continue to grow despite Indonesia's decision.