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The Fortis International Challenge returns to Malaysia in September

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The Fortis International Challenge will return to Malaysia from September 18 to 21 with Asian nations battling for tickets to the World Cup in China.

Fortis, a leading financial services provider specialising in banking and insurance, will title sponsor the important two-man team event for the second successive year at Kota Permai Golf and Country Club, which is located on the outskirts of the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur.

The top-three teams will qualify for the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in Shenzhen, China from November 27-30 where Scotland are the defending champions.

Kota Permai, a Ross Watson-designed course, hosted the qualifier in 2005 and 2007 and was also the venue of the Maybank Malaysian Open earlier this year.

“Fortis is proud to title sponsor this important team event once again. In our first year of association with this tournament, we enjoyed a wonderful experience with the Thailand team of Thongchai Jaidee and Prayad Marksaeng winning top honours after producing an exhilarating exhibition of golf.

“After last year’s success, we are anticipating another strong line-up of teams to compete in the Fortis International Challenge for three tickets to the World Cup,” said Stuart Fraser, CEO of Fortis Insurance Company (Asia) Limited.

Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han lauded the continued support of Fortis which reflects the growing importance of the qualifying event for the World Cup.

“It is wonderful that Fortis has once again stepped forward to back this event. It is a positive move towards the promotion of team golf as we have often been accustomed with individual strokeplay tournaments in Asia. We are glad to have Fortis’ support which will help raise the stature of this event,” said Han.

“Asian players rarely have the opportunity to represent their countries in team competitions and the players relish the chance of doing so. With three World Cup tickets at stake, the Fortis International Challenge will surely attract a very strong line-up of players from across the region.”

Home team Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Chinese Taipei are amongst the contenders vying for the three tickets to Mission Hills.

The Asian Tour is staging the four-day qualifier on behalf of the International Federation of PGA Tours, which is the sanctioning body for the World Cup. There is no prize money at the Fortis International Challenge but the three qualifiers will be eligible to shoot for the US$5.5 million on offer in China.

The Fortis International Challenge follows a similar format as the World Cup, with fourball golf played on the first and third days and foursomes (or alternate shot) played on the second and final days.

Last year, Thailand, the Netherlands, Korea, New Zealand and Philippines earned tickets to the World Cup after finishing as the top-five teams at Kota Permai.

Like Asia, South America and Europe will also host a qualifier each. A total of 28 teams will tee up in Mission Hills Golf Club.

Kota Permai General Manager Ding Meng Sieng said: “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to host the Fortis International Challenge. Our golf club has been in the forefront of golf in Malaysia in recent times and we will do our utmost to prepare our championship course to provide a true test of golf for the competitors.”