Manila, July 25: The Aboitiz Invitational will be staged at the challenging Wack Wack Golf and Country Club for the first time when it returns for its sixth edition on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) next week.

The Aboitiz Invitational, which was inaugurated in 2011, will offer a prize purse of US$100,000 when it gets underway from August 3 to 6. It will be the 18^th leg of the ADT schedule this season.

Leading players from the ADT are set to feature in what is the Tour’s third stop in the Philippines this season as they vie to finish inside top-five on the Order of Merit to secure Asian Tour cards for 2017.

Defending champion Juvic Pagunsan is also expected to headline the event alongside Asian Tour regular Antonio Lascuna, 2012 ADT Order of Merit champion Jay Bayron and Elmer Salvador, who won the event in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

Erramon I. Aboitiz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc., is delighted to extend their partnership with the ADT.

“We are proud to welcome the return of the Aboitiz Invitational and we are looking forward to working with the ADT, whom we share a strong relationship with. I’m confident that we can see some great action from the talented players in the region on the difficult Wack Wack course,” said Aboitiz.

Enrique K. Razon Jr., Chairman and President of Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. (PGTI), said: “We hope to unearth more talents through the staging of this event. The ADT has always been a great platform for budding golfers to hone their skills and advance their careers. We are happy to do our part in helping these players,” said Razon.

Asian Tour Associate Director Irfan Hamid lauded the strong commitment from Aboitiz.

“The return of the Aboitiz Invitational reinforces the growing strength of the game in the Philippines and across the region. We would like to express our appreciation to Aboitiz for their unwavering support over the years,” said Irfan.

The ADT will reward the top-five finishers on the Order of Merit at the end of this season with Asian Tour cards for 2017.

Like all other ADT events, the Aboitiz Invitational will offer Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points to the top six players and ties based on a sliding scale.

For more information on the ADT, please visit www.asiandevelopmenttour.com.

Ends.

About Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc.

Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV) is the publicly listed holding and investment company of the Aboitiz Group with major investments in power, banking, food, land and infrastructure. AEV is recognized as one of the best-managed companies in the Philippines and in the region, and is acknowledged for its good corporate governance.

About Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. and the Philippine Golf Tour

Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc., a sports management and promotions company, is the official organizer of the Philippine Golf Tour.  Established in 2009, PGTI seeks to advance the cause of professional golf in the Philippines.  PGTI supports the Filipino golfer through exposure in local, regional and international golf tournaments.  PGTI organizes tournaments held in the country’s top golf courses, enabling golfers to hone their skills, compete with fellow professionals, and earn from the sport. To date, the PGT is the largest local golfing circuit in Southeast Asia.

About the Asian Development Tour

The Asian Development Tour was launched in 2010 with the aim of creating a career pathway for professional golfers in Asia. Sanctioned by the Asian Tour, the Asian Development Tour will ultimately create a new playing platform for emerging stars from across Asia and around the world. Through the Asian Tour Qualifying School, players will qualify for the Asian Development Tour and enjoy the opportunity to hone their games and talent through a secondary circuit in Asia. Designed in the same structure as the Web.com Tour in America and European Challenge Tour, the Asian Development Tour is a stepping stone to the Asian Tour and the exciting world of international golf. The Asian Development Tour has been structured to ensure the best opportunities for its members. The leading five players on the Asian Development Tour will earn coveted Asian Tour cards for the following season, ensuring a proper career pathway for aspiring professionals. All ADT events receive Official World Golf Ranking points.