19 October 2015
Grants the top 2 winners of the CIMB Classic-AGF Youth Golf Challenge an opportunity of a lifetime to tee off with some of the world’s top professional golfers at the CIMB Classic Pro-Am Golf Tournament
Kuala Lumpur: It’s golfing with a heart at the CIMB Classic 2015. The tournament today announced a partnership with Akademi Golf Felda (AGF) to accord two pro-am spots to elite golfers of the AGF.
The CIMB Classic-AGF Youth Golf Challenge will take place on 21 October 2015, at the A-Formosa Golf and Country Club, and will feature 24 of the top AGF golfers who will vie for two pro-am spots at the CIMB Classic Pro-Am Tournament at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club at the end of October. The costs of the CIMB Classic-AGF Youth Golf Challenge and the travel expenses incurred by the two winners will be full borne by the CIMB Classic.
AGFs search for potential talent aged between 17 to 20 years old began in November 2014 at 10 Felda settlements nationwide. 60 participants were selected to go through rigorous training by three golf coaches and a fitness instructor. Training involves a compulsory early morning five km daily run, hours of daily practice on the driving range or the golf course, and thrice weekly gym sessions. 24 out of the 60 (inclusive of four female golfers) are now in the Felda Golfers Elite Squad based on their consistent and excellent performances in various tournaments. In less than a year, the Elite Squad has produced four professional golfers and four single handicappers.
Effendy Shahul Hamid, CEO, Group Asset Management and Investments, CIMB Group said at the press conference, “This is a unique partnership and one that the CIMB Classic is thrilled to announce. The spirit of giving back is important to us, and as such, we look forward to hosting two elite Felda youth golfers at the CIMB Classic Pro-Am in a couple weeks."
I want to applaud Felda and indeed AGF for the success and more importantly sustainability of this initiative, Effendy added.
Datuk Mohd Isa bin Abu Kasim, Chairman of AGF is delighted at this partnership and expressed his gratitude to CIMB Classic. He said, “It is the AGFs aim to develop the potential in these youths. They are extremely excited at the prospect of playing with top golfing names and are working very hard to claim the two playing spots in the CIMB Classic Pro-Am Tournament.”
The CIMB Classic, now into its sixth year, has established itself as the only official PGA TOUR FedExCup event in Southeast Asia and a premier event in the international golfing calendar. It features a limited 78-player field, with a prize purse of USD 7 million and no cut, making it one of the richest professional golf tournaments in the region. Eminent golf personalities who have confirmed their participation in the CIMB Classic 2015 include Sergio Garcia, Adam Scott, Ernie Els and Henrik Stenson.
