In a ground-breaking development, the Asian Development Tour (ADT) and The R&A have come together to launch an exciting and innovational new event in one of the game of golf’s emerging markets: Cambodia.

The ADT Players Championship presented by The R&A will take place at Angkor Golf Resort – the Asian Tour Destinations venue that hosted the Cambodian Classic on the Asian Tour in 2012 – from September 25-28 this year, for what will be the eighth event on the ADT schedule.

The tournament will boast prizemoney of US$100,000 and will mark the first time the ADT, the Asian Tour’s development circuit, has visited Cambodia.

Said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour, Asian Tour, said: “One of the Asian Development Tour’s missions is to aid the development of golf in countries where golf is still relatively new but has huge potential for growth.

“The ADT Players Championship presented by The R&A very clearly ticks this box, and is especially significant as we are working with our friends at The R&A – an Affiliate Partner of the Asian Tour – and Angkor Golf Resort, where we have enjoyed a long-term relationship.

“It is fair to say that the launch of this tournament is one of the most exciting developments for the Asian Development Tour in recent times and we thank The R&A and Angkor Golf Resort for making this possible.”

The tournament – an important project that will allow the ADT and The R&A to collaborate on their common goal of growing the game in the region – will provide opportunities to elite amateurs from around Asia and is expected to be the ADT’s season-opening event next year.

The R&A has also confirmed the winner will receive an invite to play in an Asian Tour event that is part of the Open Qualifying Series in 2025.

Phil Anderton, Chief Development Officer at The R&A, said, “We believe that it is important to support pathways which provide opportunities for aspiring golfers in Asia-Pacific to compete on the international stage and possibly go on to reach new heights within the sport. We look forward to working with the Asian Development Tour on this new initiative.”

The event will feature a field of 144 players, with 94 from the ADT, up to 36 invited from The R&A, and up to 14 from the Cambodia Golf Federation.

David Baron, General Manager of Angkor Golf Resort, said, “We’re delighted to be host venue for the inaugural ADT Players Championship presented by The R&A. We have fond memories of hosting the Asian Tour back in 2012 and we’re very excited to be welcoming back the next generation of golfing talent. Siem Reap has gone from strength-to-strength in recent years but this wonderful initiative from The R&A will be instrumental to raising awareness for the game of golf in the kingdom. We will use this as a platform to further enhance grass roots development in Cambodia”.

The award-winning Angkor Golf Resort ‒ which sits at the doorstep of the famous Angkor Wat Temple in Siem Reap ‒ became part of Asian Tour Destinations in 2021 and is the only Cambodian venue that is a member of the exclusive network. 

The popular resort, which boasts a Sir Nick Faldo-designed 18-hole layout, is one of 13 golf clubs that are part of Asian Tour Destinations ‒ which was launched in 2020 to set up an affiliate network of premier golfing properties in the region that have direct ties with the Asian Tour.

Opened in 2008, Angkor Golf Resort, has a proven track record for hosting tournaments, including the Asian Tour event 12 years ago, where American David Lipsky triumphed.

The Resort has also hosted a stage of the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School, as well as the Faldo Series Asia Cambodian Qualifier, the Angkor Amateur Open and the Angkor Fourball championship.