Hirofumi Ouchi, Managing Director of Templer Park, Tan Sri Syed Mohd Yusof Tun Syed Nasir, Chairman of Vascory Land, Tun Khalil Yaakob, Governor of Malacca, Andy Yamanaka, Executive Director of Japan Golf Tour, and Asian Tour Chairman Kyi Hla Han.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Next year’s inaugural Vascory Classic will be jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation [JGTO], extending a close co-operation that has existed between both Tours for more than a decade.

Title sponsor Vascory Land also announced an increase in prize fund to US$750,000 (about RM2.5 million) when the event becomes the first Asian Tour tournament in Southeast Asia to be sanctioned with the JGTO.

Currently, the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour already co-sanction the Asia-Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup in Japan.

Malaysia’s newest tournament will be held at the Templer Park Country Club on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur from August 20-23, 2015.

Vascory Land Chairman Tan Sri Syed Mohd Yusof Tun Syed Nasir said: “It gives us great pleasure to announce that the Vascory Classic will be sanctioned by the Japan Golf Tour in addition to the support and sanction that we already have in place with the Asian Tour.

“Our vision to bring the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour together will showcase Asian golf at its finest.

“I am also delighted that the tournament’s prize fund will increase to US$750,000 from an initial US$500,000 which we had earlier announced.”

Asian Tour Chairman Kyi Hla Han said: “Since 2003, the Japan Golf Tour and Asian Tour have co-sanctioned tournaments in Japan, including the Okinawa Open, Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open and now the Asia-Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup.

“This collaboration has provided a great platform for players from both Tours to display their talents and gain additional playing opportunities. Therefore, we are happy to extend an invitation to the Japan Golf Tour to jointly sanction our first tournament together in Malaysia at the Vascory Classic next year.”

JGTO Executive Director Andy Yamanaka said: “On behalf of our membership, I extend our fullest appreciation to our title sponsor Vascory Land for its support of this new tournament.

“We fully appreciate the invitation from the Asian Tour to co-sanction the Vascory Classic, which is a wonderful addition to the Japan Golf Tour schedule in 2015.”

The par-72 Templer Park course, designed by Kentaro Sato and Japanese golf legend Jumbo Ozaki, is rated as one of the most challenging courses in Malaysia.

Templer Park Country Club is set amidst the backdrop of Templer Park Forest Reserve and the majestic Bukit Takun limestone hill. Opened for play in 1991, the course has hosted the Malaysian Open in 1995, 1996 and 2000.