Thongchai Jaidee, one of Asia's finest golfers, made a brief appearance at the HSBC Invitational Golf Day charity event in Halim Perdanakusuma, East Jakarta, on Wednesday.
The Thai superstar arrived in a bid to help raise funds for education for children in the country's remote eastern regions.
Despite his tight tournament schedule, the inspiring golf star - who began playing at age 16 and was pro by his 30s - made himself available at a golf clinic for around 130 amateur golfers, mostly HSBC customers, during his brief visit.
"I've worked hard at my golf career to get where I am today. My education has definitely helped me along the way. So, it means a lot for me to be here today and help raise money and awareness so that children may have better opportunities and a better life," Jaidee, ranked 53rd in the world, said in a statement released to the media.
The one-day charity tournament managed to raise US$13,000 and Rp 10.65 million ($1000) for the educational mission of the UNICEF in Indonesia.
"Schools in the eastern part of Indonesia, especially in East Nusa Tenggara, Maluku and Papua, urgently need support. These are the three likely locations to receive this funding. We will soon decide on that matter," Liem Ay Ling, chief of the private sector fund-raising effort at UNICEF, said.
Last year's HSBC Invitational Golf Day in Indonesia raised around $14,250, which was donated to UNICEF's training programs for teachers and facilities in 17 elementary schools in Klaten, Central Java.
The bank held a series of charity golf days in Indonesia, the Philippines and Hong Kong, managing to raise a total of $487,000. All the funds were donated to UNICEF.
"Unlike in Jakarta, in Papua and Maluku children's access to education is extremely limited, say in terms of transportation. Children there are less motivated to go to school due to the distance. So, it is important to train teachers on how to encourage their students to keep coming to school despite all the hurdles faced," said Liem.
Donations were generated from the event's "longest drive" contest, in which Robert Tumiwa won with his 260-meter drive.
The two best players at the HSBC Invitational Golf Day 2009 - Eko Priyo Pratomo (Best Gross Overall) and Bayu Andika (Best Nett Overall) - qualified to compete at the HSBC Regional Golf Day on Oct. 13 in Hong Kong. The tournament will also raise funds for UNICEF initiatives.
The eventual overall winner of the HSBC Regional Golf Day is entitled to a free trip to watch the World Golf Championship-HSBC Champions on Nov. 5-8 at the Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai. They will also have the opportunity to play in the event's Pro Am competition.
Recently elevated to World Golf Championship status, the HSBC Champions received a further boost with the victory of South Korean Yang Yong-eun in last week's PGA Championship in Chaska, Minnesota. Yang, who is the first Asian to win a major men's golf title, was the winner of the 2006 HSBC Champions, while Sergio Garcia of Spain was the defending champion.
The tournament will this year boast world-class competitors including world No. 1 Tiger Woods and Garcia, said Agung Laksamana, senior vice president of the communications group of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd (HSBC). The prize money in this year's tournament has also increased from $5 million to $7 million.
"I am looking forward to the opportunity in the future to play in the same field with Tiger and Sergio and measure my performance against theirs," said Jaidee, the first Thai player to win a tournament on the 2004 European Tour and the first player in the Asian Tour to surpass the $2 million in his 2007 earnings.
