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Astro inks Indonesia Open deal
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Thu, 11/09/2006 11:51 AM
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Malaysia-based satellite television provider Astro has signed a three-year deal to sponsor the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open golf championship starting next year. The tournament will offer US$1.05 million in prize money.
""We're taking the opportunity to sponsor golf since the sport promises great potential for local young golfers to show their faces to the world. Besides, we see that many other sports, like soccer and badminton, have enjoyed support from other companies,"" Astro PT Direct Vision chief executive officer Nelia Molato-Sutrisno told reporters Wednesday.
The tournament is jointly organized by the Jakarta administration, which has included it in its tourist promotion campaigns, and the Asian and European Tours.
Next year's event will take place Feb. 15-18 at the Damai Indah Golf and Country Club in the Pantai Indah Kapuk housing estate in North Jakarta.
Keld Kristiansen, managing director of tournament organizer Parallel Media Asia, hopes at least 150 pro golfers from the Asian and European Tours will take part.
""Currently, we are focusing on efforts to ensure the best golfers come and play in the tournament,"" he said. ""Perhaps two weeks ahead of the championship we will be able to announce their names.""
Defending champion Simon Dyson of England has yet to confirm his participation.
Indonesian Amateur Golfers Association (PGI) executive treasurer Daddy Hariadi said his association would seek four additional slots for local golfers to compete in the event in addition to the eight places it enjoyed last year and this year.
""We will use this event as a platform for our young players, both pro and amateur, to improve their skills and enter the tour rankings,"" he said.
Daddy added that the PGI would pick tournament players from among the country's 20 best golfers.
The tour development director for the Asian Tour, Patrick Young, said local golfers will have more opportunities to advance thanks to three new events in 2007.
""Indonesia's golfers have more chances to enter the tour rankings since we will have more tournaments, namely the $350,000 Motorola International Bintan, $500,000 Jakarta Masters and the $400,000 Indonesian International Championship,"" he said.
The Motorola event is scheduled for March 22-25, the Jakarta Masters from May 31 to June 3 and the Indonesian International for Aug. 23-26.
Young said the tour had lined up sponsors for the latter two events, but he declined to name the companies.
""We will announce them later. Hopefully, those tournaments will become a catalyst for the development of golf in the country,"" he said.
