ASIAN GOLF INDUSTRY FEDERATION

Colonial Incentive a ‘Leap Forward for Tour’

Mena Tour logo new2xDubai, United Arab Emirates: The 2017 MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Tour champion will be invited to compete in next year’s DEAN & DELUCA Invitational, a PGA Tour event that enjoys rich tradition and history dating back to 1946 when the great Ben Hogan won the inaugural edition.
Held at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, the US$6.9 million DEAN & DELUCA Invitational is the longest-running PGA Tour event at the same venue and the 10th eldest event on the PGA Tour – and one that enjoys a unique connection to some of the game’s greatest names.
Golf legends such as Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Adam Scott have all donned the plaid jacket, the ubiquitous symbol of supremacy at the Colonial, but the legacy of Hogan still looms large over his native Fort Worth, the scene of five of his Tour victories.
A special invitation to the leading 2017 MENA Tour professional on the Order of Merit comes courtesy of the close ties between DEAN & DELUCA and Thailand’s MahaSamutr Country Club.
This partnership, in conjunction with Colonial Country Club, marks another ground-breaking step for the MENA Tour as it aims to form new alliances around the world that can benefit its members and grow the game of golf.
“Pace Development Corporation is delighted to be sponsoring the MENA Tour for a second consecutive year and to open the Tour with the MahaSamutr Masters. We are also excited to offer this year’s Tour winner an invitation to the DEAN & DELUCA Invitational in 2018 to support the Tour’s long-term commitment to bring the popularity of this game to Asia and being the first step before taking on the world stage,” said Sorapoj Techakraisri, CEO, Pace Development Corporation Plc.
A global leader in fine foods, DEAN & DELUCA was recently acquired by Pace Development Corporation, one of Thailand’s leading real estate firms that owns MahaSamutr Country Club, and made a foray into golf sponsorship when it backed the inaugural MahaSamutr Masters at Hua Hin’s Banyan Golf Club in 2016.
“It feels great to see well-recognised global brands offer their support to the Tour, which sends positive signals to the golfing community about the Tour’s commitment to supporting the careers of its members,” said Mohamed Juma Buamaim, Chairman of the MENA Tour.
He added: “The invitation to play in one of the most prestigious PGA Tour events is a great development for the MENA Tour, one that will resonate on many levels, reinforcing the growing strength of the game in the MENA region.
“All we want is to fuel an ideal climate for competitive golf in the region for young golfers to come through the ranks and make a name for themselves. Every step is a leap forward.”
The invitation follows Pace Development’s sponsorship commitment of the MahaSamutr Masters, part of a three-event Thailand swing that tees-off at Banyan Golf Club on May 1, followed by the Mountain Creek Open by Golf Citizen and the Pattana Golf Championship the following weeks.
 
 

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