ELEVATING ASEAN

In line with Maybank’s regional reach and our mission to humanise all that we do, our golf events ensured a strong representation of golfers from the ASEAN region.

Maybank Championship (LPGA Tour)

The diversity of the LPGA Tour is nothing short of remarkable, with players from more than 30 countries making up its membership.

The Maybank Championship enhanced that diversity by providing starts to golfers from the ASEAN region, first through invitational spots for Filipina Dottie Ardina, Singapore’s Amanda Tan and Indonesia’s Ida Ayu Melati in 2023.

Showing the far-sightedness and innovation that are the hallmarks of its business, Maybank elevated the ASEAN initiative by introducing the ground-breaking ASEAN Qualifier in 2024. Played at KLGCC’s West Course, the two-day qualifier saw a 35-player field made up of professionals and leading amateurs from the ASEAN region battling to finish among the top five and earn coveted starts in the Maybank Championship.

On a tough course set-up that mirrored the main event conditions, Indonesian Ida Ayu Melati booked her second Maybank Championship start by winning the qualifier with a total of two-under-par 142 (68-74). Joining her as qualifiers were Chayanit Wangmahaporn (Thailand), Liyana Durisic (Malaysia), Kristina Yoko (Indonesia) and Durriyah Damian (Malaysia).

The 2024 Maybank Championship also saw top Filipina golfer Bianca Pagdanganan competing as an invitational player, finishing in an impressive tied 18th position on 11-under-par.

In 2023, the total prizemoney banked in by the three ASEAN invitees was USD22,400, while in 2024 the money amassed by Pagdanganan and the five ASEAN Qualifiers was a whopping USD66,060.

Maybank Championship (Asian Tour and European Tour)

As a joint-sanctioned Asian Tour and European Tour event, the men’s Maybank Championship featured innovative and diverse qualification categories for the 156-player field – including an equitable ASEAN category for golfers, who may not have been able to qualify based on their own merits.

The ASEAN spots were based on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, Asian Development Tour Order of Merit, and the national PGA rankings of the ASEAN countries where available.

PGM Maybank Championship (Asian Development Tour)

Maybank’s ASEAN Agenda was also championed through the sponsorship of the PGM Maybank Championship, which was co-sanctioned by the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour and the Asian Development Tour (ADT) from 2018 to 2019. The tournaments played a crucial role in determining the seven players who earned Asian Tour cards for the following season.

The 2019 PGM Maybank Championship was also used to determine the five ASEAN qualifiers for the 2020 Maybank Championship, which was unfortunately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Maybank also sponsored the PGM Maybank Championship in 2022 when it was staged as a sole PGM Tour event due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions.