It was a long time coming indeed, but India’s Pukhraj Singh Gill finally broke through for his maiden Asian Development Tour (ADT) victory at the ADT Players Championship presented by The R&A.

The 29-year-old clinched victory at Saujana Golf & Country Club in Malaysia in a three-way playoff with two of Asia’s rising young stars, Filipino Sean Ramos and Thai teenager Thanawin Lee.

The three players had finished 72 holes of regulation play deadlocked on 13-under-par, following a rollercoaster final day that matched the undulating fairways of Saujana’s Palm Course.

Taking a one-shot lead over Ramos into the final round, Gill started hot with three birdies over his first four holes to extend his advantage to five shots. However, dropped shots at Holes 6 and 9 and some great play by Ramos and Lee saw his advantage cut back to one.

The nail-biting action continued into the final stretch, with Lee taking the lead with a four-foot birdie at the par-three 12th hole, while Gill responded with his own birdie at the par-five 13th after finding the green in two. The Indian player made three straight bogeys from Hole 14, but neither Lee nor Ramos managed to pull away.

Gill made use of his length again at the dogleg-left par-four 17th, hitting a monster drive over the green and almost chipping in. The three players reached the par-five 18th with Lee holding a one-stroke lead on 14-under-par.

Lee looked like he had the title in the bag when his third shot rolled just off the green, but hit a poor chip and missed a 10-foot par-saver, carding a closing 68. Both Gill (72) and Ramos (71) made par to draw level and force extra time.

The playoff, contested at the 18th, saw Gill and Ramos nail birdies from 10 and three feet respectively on the first extra hole, while Lee dropped out after finding a bunker with his third shot.

The Indian then sealed victory with a superb birdie on the second sudden-death decider, hitting his third shot from a greenside bunker to six feet and sinking the putt. Ramos missed a long par putt after driving into the left rough and pushing his second shot right, behind two palm trees.

Gill was visibly elated with the victory, which in his own words “was a long time coming”.

“This feels surreal! I think it’s going to take a while to sink in, but I’m just so pumped right now. It’s been a great week in Malaysia. I was very happy with the course design, playing it for the first time – it just really suits my eye,” said Gill, who pocketed a cheque for US$19,250.

Sean Ramos

“I was really comfortable playing the 18th hole because I had a length advantage and could get there in two – and both the times I had a great drive. At the first playoff hole, that 10-foot clutch birdie was very important. And the second time, I just played it flawlessly,” added the golfer from Punjab.

Ramos put down the loss, while agonizing, as a step in the right direction as he continues to chase a win on the ADT.

“I made some changes in my swing and fortunately, It felt good here and I think I’m heading in the right direction. This is my first time getting into this position in an international event, so it feels great. Even though I lost today, I’d go through it a hundred more times,” said the 22-year-old.

For the 19-year-old Lee, this week was a learning experience in his young career, having only turned professional this year.

“I’m happy with how I played today, but it was just not good enough. I was nervous even before the playoff! This is only my fifth event as a professional and there’s a lot of work to do. I learnt a lot from the pros this week, especially from Gill and Sean today,” shared Lee.

Korean Minhyeok Yang closed with a 68 for outright fourth place on 10-under-par, one shot ahead of Singapore’s Nicklaus Chiam and Thai Nitithorn Thippong.

Fourteen amateurs had started the championship as tournament invitations, striving to finish as the top two to earn exemptions into the Final Stage of the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School. The coveted rewards to Malaysians Anson Yeo and Aiden Kei, who were the only two amateurs to make it to the last 36 holes. Both players turn 20 this year and are looking to make the professional transition.

Ranked as Malaysia’s top male amateur, Yeo closed with a superb 69 to sneak into the top-10 on six-under-par.

”Happy with how I played this week, especially today. The Final Stage exemption means a lot as and I’m grateful to the ADT and The R&A. The timing is perfect as I was planning to go for the Q-School this year. I aim to turn professional after this year’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship,” said Yeo.

Kei was grateful for the opportunity to play in a second ADT event, although he had a disappointing closing 77 and finished tied 36th on one-over-par.

“I’m really grateful and happy that The R&A sponsored this tournament, and to have gotten this slot. I’ll play more amateur events this year, and then I’ll try out for the Q-School. If I do well, I might turn pro,” said Kei.

The ADT Players Championship presented by The R&A is staged in partnership with the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour, and is the ADT’s fourth event of the 2026 season and its second stop in Malaysia.

India’s Pukhraj Singh Gill gritted his way to a third round 70 to inch closer to a breakthrough Asian Development Tour (ADT) victory at the ADT Players Championship presented by The R&A, topping the leaderboard on 13-under-par 203 with one round to go at Saujana Golf & Country Club in Malaysia.

At the end of a wet and energy-sapping day at Saujana’s Palm Course, Gill leads by a solitary shot from Sean Ramos of the Philippines who carded a solid 67. Thai rookie Thanawin Lee is in third place on nine-under-par after a third round 73, a shot clear of Singapore’s Nicklaus Chiam who also shot 73.

Following the conclusion of the rain-delayed second round in the morning, 60 players progressed to the third round which teed off at 10.30am on a shotgun start. The weather refused to cooperate for the third day running, as rain and lightning forced the suspension of play at 12.56pm. The threat cleared after a long wait, and the players resumed their rounds at 4.10pm, with the entire field managing to complete 18 holes.

Gill, 29, is hoping that he can last the pace and claim the US$19,250 winner’s cheque and a long-awaited ADT title. He won one event on the Indian Golf Premier League last year, emerging as the new circuit’s Order of Merit winner.

“It’s been a long day, so kind of hanging in there. A test of patience, I think, and also just getting comfortable leading. It’s nice to have a one-shot cushion going into tomorrow, but it’s going to be a good test,” said Gill, who shot superb scores of 66 and 67 in the first two rounds.

Gill coloured his scorecard with an eagle, three birdies, one bogey and an unfortunate double bogey.

“I made an eagle two at the fourth hole after a great drive and a chip which fortunately ended up in the hole. I lost my ball a little to the right at the 11th and, the rough being wet, I couldn’t find it and wound up with double bogey. But I had five pars back-to-back after that, and that gave me a little bit of composure coming into the last two holes – and I birdied 17 after a brilliant approach,” Gill explained.

Heading into tomorrow’s final round, also to be played on a shotgun start due to inclement weather being forecast for the early afternoon, Gill noted that he will just focus on his game.

“It’s a lot to think about dealing with the pressure of the situation and everything, so you’re not able to think too much about anything else. I’ve been playing very well and, with a little bit of fortune tomorrow, fingers crossed,” he said.

Ramos meanwhile was happy that he kept his composure and hit some great iron shots close to the pin. He nailed seven birdies, including two on his last three holes, against two dropped shots, to stay well in contention for a maiden ADT title.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Sean Ramos of the Philippines pictured in action during the third round of the ADT Players Championship presented by The R&A, at Saujana Golf & Country Club in Malaysia.

“I’m very happy with how I finished. My birdie putt on the 16th hole was a good one, a downhill slider from about 30 feet. So yeah, good momentum heading into tomorrow and just keep hitting fairways and greens. I am a bit nervous, but that’s part of the game,” said the 22-year-old from Manila.

The low round of the day came from Japan’s Naoki Sekito, a flawless six-under-par 66 which was a marked improvement from his first two rounds of 71 and 73. He lies joint fifth on six-under-par with four other golfers, including leading Malaysian Shahriffuddin Ariffin.

“I didn’t expect to shoot six-under today! I finished four holes of my second round this morning and was just happy to make the cut, as I wasn’t playing well. My iron play was good today. This is my third time playing the Palm Course and I think it’s a great golf course, but a difficult test,” said Sekito, a three-time ADT champion and Order of Merit winner in 2019.

From the 14 amateurs who started the championship as tournament invitations, two progressed to the final 36 holes following the halfway cut which came at one-over-par – the Malaysian duo of Aiden Kei and Anson Yeo. As the top two amateurs, they earned fast track passes to the Final Stage of the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School for the 2027 season.

Playing in his second ADT event, Kei added a third round 73 and is tied 11th on four-under-par. The lanky golfer made the cut in his ADT debut at the 2025 PKNS Selangor Masters, finishing joint 19th.

“It’s a great opportunity to get the exemption into the Final Stage of Q-School. The last few days have been quite a challenge with the delays, but I’m happy with how I’ve played so far. My wedges have been working well, and I was hitting it pretty close to the pin,” said Kei, who turns 20 on the 22nd of August.

Currently the highest-ranked male Malaysian amateur at 274th place in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Yeo shot a third round 72 and is a shot adrift of his countryman. This is the first time he has made the cut in four starts on the ADT.

Staged in partnership with the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour, the US$110,000 ADT Players Championship presented by The R&A is the tour’s fourth event of the 2026 season and its second stop in Malaysia.

India’s Pukhraj Singh Gill played near-flawless golf to move into prime position for a maiden Asian Development Tour (ADT) victory at the ADT Players Championship presented by The R&A, holding the 36-hole clubhouse lead on 11-under-par 133 at Saujana Golf & Country Club in Malaysia.

The 29-year-old had to finish seven holes of his first round this morning, following yesterday’s two and a half hour thunderstorm delay. The weather held better today, but play was still suspended for close to an hour from 4.07pm due to the threat of lightning. Forty-four players, including first round co-leader Alfred Sitohang of Indonesia, will return to complete their second rounds tomorrow morning before the cut to the top 50 and ties is made.

After an opening six-under-par 66 at Saujana’s highly-rated Palm Course, Gill picked up where he left off and carded a second round 67 with seven birdies against two bogeys. He lies one shot ahead of Thai rookie Thanawin Lee, who signed in a pair of 67s.

While Gill won once on the inaugural Indian Golf Premier League last year, the golfer from Punjab was excited to be in contention for a first ADT title in many appearances on the region’s premier developmental circuit.

“I’m very happy with how I’ve been playing, as I hardly made any mistakes. My first round was pretty flawless – fairway, green, many one-putts. In the second round, I made some crucial par saves,” said Gill, who has played ADT events in Malaysia before but never at Saujana.

“When I got to 12-under-par today, I became a little anxious and dropped a shot – so I’ll just try to maintain my tempo and stay calm tomorrow, and keep doing what I’m been doing,” he added.

Lee, who is only 19, hopes to maintain his good form heading into moving day as he chases a breakthrough win in his first year as a professional.

“Overall, my game has been pretty good, and I feel great about my scores in the first two rounds. I’ll try my best to maintain this level over the last two days,” said Lee, who also had to finish seven holes of his first round in the morning.

Lee has played the Palm Course before, as an amateur at the 2023 Saujana Amateur Championship when he finished fourth.

“I like the Palm Course – the condition is great, even with the rain. Playing as a pro is much tougher than as an amateur, as the level is higher. But I love golf and it just feels great to compete in this event. It’s been a pretty nice week,” he enthused.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Sean Ramos of the Philippines pictured in action during the second round of the ADT Players Championship presented by The R&A, at Saujana Golf & Country Club in Malaysia.

Among the players who completed their second rounds, Sean Ramos of the Philippines lies third on seven-under-par following rounds of 68 and 69. The 22-year-old from Manila relied on a hot putter to stay in contention for a maiden win on the ADT.

“I played solid the last two days and holed a lot of putts, although I wasn’t hitting it as good as I wanted to. I finished four holes of my first round this morning, which was good as there was no wind and the conditions were softer. The Palm Course is very nice – everything is pure, from tee to green,” said Ramos.

It was a welcome return to form for Malaysian Wilson Choo, an ADT winner in 2015 at the PGM LADA Langkawi Championship. Having focused more on teaching the last few years, the 36-year-old was relieved to card a second round 72 to add to his opening 68.

“I was just trying to hang in there. I haven’t been playing well for the whole year and, coming into this week, I saw my coach, Steven Guliano, and he asked me how I’m feeling – and I just said, ‘nervous’! I made a lot of good putts yesterday, but could not sink enough today,” said Choo.

Malaysia’s leading amateur Anson Yeo did well to card a three-under-par 69 after an opening 72, climbing well above the projected cutline of one-over-par. The 19-year-old was elated to be in the running to finish as one of the top two amateurs who make the cut, which will earn them exemptions into the Final Stage of the Asian Tour’s 2027 Qualifying School.

“There’s still two more days to go. Happy to make the cut, but I could have done better – I hit 17 greens today and was bogey-free, but my speed judgement on putts was off and I left a lot short,” said Yeo.

The ADT Players Championship presented by The R&A is the ADT’s fourth event of the season, and its second stop in Malaysia. The 144-player field for the third edition includes 14 amateurs from seven Asia-Pacific countries competing as invitational players, supporting The R&A’s and the ADT’s shared mission to provide pathways for aspiring young golfers.

The ADT Players Championship presented by The R&A is staged in partnership with the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour.

Indonesian Alfred Sitohang emerged as the surprise clubhouse leader following an eventful opening day at the US$110,000 ADT Players Championship presented by The R&A, played at Saujana Golf & Country Club in Malaysia.

Sitohang wielded his irons with aplomb at the testing Palm Course, signing in a first round of six-under-par 66 with eight birdies against two bogeys. His thunderous play was reflected by the weather, as a lightning storm forced play to be suspended just after 3pm. Play resumed at 5.30pm, but fading light left 63 players from the afternoon session unable to conclude their rounds.

Indian teenager Kartik Singh carded a five-under-par 67 to lie in sole second place among the players who completed their rounds, one shot ahead of Singapore’s Nicklaus Chiam and three Malaysians – seasoned campaigners Ben Leong and Wilson Choo, and promising amateur Aiden Kei.

The 24-year old Sitohang, who hails from the mountainous city of Bogor, was pleased that he had a good ball-striking day which helped him manage the humid conditions and tame the tight, hilly layout. In his second year as a professional, the bespectacled golfer is chasing his first win on the ADT. His best finish of joint 18th came on home soil last year at The Indonesia Pro-Am presented by Combiphar and Nomura.

“I hit the ball very well today and managed to hole some putts. This golf course is very difficult and the walk is tough. You need to hit it well here, as the fairways are narrow and slopy, and so are the greens,” said Sitohang, who was playing the Palm Course for the first time.

“Some of the golf courses in Bogor are similar to Saujana, but it’s a little cooler there. I’ll stick to the same gameplan, except for a few holes. I used the driver a lot today, but for hole 7, I might switch to a fairway wood off the tee tomorrow,” he added.

Singh was similarly enamoured with the allure of the Palm Course, describing the Ronald Fream-designed layout as one of the best he’s played. The 16-year-old has been coming to Malaysia to compete since his junior days, but has not played at Saujana before.

“It’s a great golf course, and I’m really impressed by how well the course is maintained, even after all of the rain we had recently,” said Singh, who turned professional in September last year and is playing in his rookie season on the ADT.
Singh’s colourful scorecard was marked with five birdies, two bogeys and an eagle at the par-five eighth hole, where he holed a 12-foot putt after reaching the green in two.

“The greens are very receptive because of the rain, so you can be a little aggressive and attack the pins. My approach shots were quite good today – I was hitting a lot of wedges and short irons to less than 10 feet,” Singh elaborated.

An Asian Tour winner at the 2008 Worldwide Selangor Masters, Leong rolled back the years with a polished display despite struggling with the heat. The 40-year-old chalked up five birdies against a single bogey.

“It’s definitely getting tougher to walk courses like this nowadays! But I was able to hang in there and hit some great shots. When I hit bad shots, I managed to recover, so overall it was a good day,” said Leong, who has won twice on the ADT with his last title coming at the 2018 PGM Sabah Championship.

Kei, who at age 19 is more than 20 years younger than Leong, rued a cold putter on the back nine but was happy with his score. Five of his six birdies came on the front nine.

“Overall, I played really good today and gave myself lots of birdie chances. On the back nine, my putting went a bit cold, but I still finished solid,” said Kei.

Chasing his second ADT title having won this year’s season-opening PKNS Selangor Masters, also in Malaysia, Chiam was elated to be playing at Saujana again. In 2013, he won the Saujana Amateur Championship at the Palm Course at age 17.

“I was one-over after my fourth hole after hitting it into the water, but managed to bounce back with a birdie on the next hole. It’s great to be back here – the Palm Course is a good layout, and the greens are rolling well and are pretty fast. Malaysia has been very kind to me, so hopefully it stays like that for the rest of the week,” said the 30-year-old.

2025 champion Waris Manthorn of Thailand kept his title defence alive with a solid three-under-par 69, tied with a cluster of players including rising Malaysian star Edven Ying.

The third edition of the ADT Players Championship presented by The R&A is the ADT’s second stop in Malaysia this season. 144 players are competing over 72 holes, including 14 amateurs from seven Asia-Pacific countries as invitational players.

Exemplifying The R&A’s and the ADT’s shared mission to provide pathways for aspiring young golfers, the top two amateurs who make the cut will be exempted into the Final Stage of the Asian Tour’s 2027 Qualifying School.

The ADT Players Championship presented by The R&A is staged in partnership with the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour.

A fascinating mix of proven winners, rising stars and promising young talents will take on Saujana Golf & Country Club’s Palm Course in the third edition of the ADT Players Championship presented by The R&A.

The fourth leg of the 2026 Asian Development Tour (ADT), its second stop in Malaysia this season, starts on Wednesday with a 144-player field competing over 72 holes for a total purse of US$110,000.

Reflecting The R&A’s and the ADT’s shared mission to provide pathways for aspiring young golfers to reach their full potentials, 14 amateurs from seven Asia-Pacific countries are competing on invitational starts – including highly-rated Malaysians, Anson Yeo, Hariz Hezri and Aiden Kei, as well as players from less established golfing nations such as Pakistan and Nepal. The top two amateurs who make the cut will receive exemptions into the Final Stage of the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School for 2027.

Central Asia is not left out with two professionals from Uzbekistan, Kanatbek Kurbanaliev and Chen Sergey, set to test their skills against some of the best golfers in the region.

Defending champion Waris Manthorn of Thailand, who won a playoff last October at Luisita Golf & Country Club in the Philippines, will need to have his ‘A Game’ if he hopes to make a successful defence. Standing in his way are the likes of in-form compatriot Amarin Kraivixien, winner of last month’s Singha-SAT ADT Hua Hin Championship, who will bring ability and confidence into the mix.

Singapore’s Nicklaus Chiam, winner of the ADT’s season-opening PKNS Selangor Masters in February, will be hoping that Malaysian vibes chime a winning note for him again. Working in Chiam’s favour is the fact that he has won at the Palm Course before, way back in 2013 at the Saujana Amateur Championship when he was just 17.

“Managing your game around the Palm Course is important, and you need a good gameplan. Stick to that plan, just stay patient and wait for the putts to drop,” noted Chiam, who turned professional in 2021.

“My game is looking good and I’ve been playing steadily. My target is to win, for sure, and to have fun. I have a good chance, so I’ll do my best to make the most of it,” added the amiable 30-year-old.

Another player who has fond memories of ‘The Cobra’ – as the Palm Course is respectfully monikered – is Thailand’s Nirun Sae-ueng. The 31-year-old won his second ADT title at the 2019 PGM Maybank Championship here, edging Malaysian number one Gavin Green in a playoff.

Japanese stalwart Shinichi Mizuno has also won an ADT event at Saujana, at the 2018 PGM Maybank Championship which was contested on the club’s other course, the Bunga Raya.

The highest-ranked Malaysian in the field, Shahriffuddin Ariffin, will have added incentive to do well at Saujana as he is the club’s touring professional. The 26-year-old will have fresh memories of a victory at the Palm Course, achieved at the 2022 PGM Maybank Championship when it was played as a domestic tour event.

“I’m really happy to be back at my home course, Saujana. This is a good opportunity for me to play well on my home ground, in front of family and friends,” said Shahriffuddin, who has won twice on the ADT on home soil, most recently at the 2022 PKNS Selangor Masters.

“You have to keep the ball in play on the Palm Course, and focus on getting the right putting lines as the greens are very challenging. And you need a good short game to get up and down from off the greens,” he added.

Another local player who will be in the spotlight is Edven Ying, who made history last December when he became the first Malaysian to win the Thailand Open. The powerful 24-year-old won the All Thailand Golf Tour showpiece by two shots over 2024 ADT Players Championship presented by The R&A winner Nopparat Panichphol, and another Thai, Pavit Tangkamolprasert.

The ADT Players Championship presented by The R&A is staged in partnership with the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour.

There will be a strong sense of nostalgia in the air during this week’s ADT Players Championship presented by The R&A at Saujana Golf & Country Club in Kuala Lumpur – the fourth event of the 2026 Asian Development Tour (ADT) and its second stop in Malaysia this season.

The US$110,000 event is staged in partnership with the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour, thus ensuring a strong representation of local professionals on a familiar battleground – Saujana’s storied Palm Course.

Numerous exemptions are given to rising young professionals and elite amateurs from the Asia-Pacific region, exemplifying The R&A’s shared purpose with the ADT to create development pathways that help aspiring golfers reach their full potential. From 6-9 May, that pathway will wind through the narrow fairways and undulating greens of the Palm Course.

For The R&A, Saujana is familiar ground as well. The club has always enjoyed close ties with golf’s governing body, having hosted International Final Qualifying events for The Open in 2004, 2005 and 2010, as well as the 2002 World Amateur Team Championships.

For the ADT, Saujana has been the venue for many of the developmental circuit’s events over the years, most recently the Toyota Tour Championship in 2023. The Palm Course has also staged the Malaysian Open on nine occasions between 1988 and 2009, and the Maybank Championship from 2017 to 2019, most as part of the Asian Tour.

Jerome Ng, The R&A’s Director of Golf Development – Asia-Pacific, noted that it is no coincidence the championship’s third edition is being held in Malaysia and at Saujana following the first two in Cambodia and the Philippines, respectively.

“Saujana has hosted numerous championships and has much history, and the Palm Course is a strong test for any golfer. We have seen great success in Cambodia and the Philippines these past two years, especially with local talents valuing the opportunity to win at home and kick-start their careers through our affiliate exemption spots. Malaysia is one of the most mature golfing markets in Southeast Asia, and there is no lack of talent, great golf courses and outstanding facilities,” said Ng.

With the top two amateurs who make the cut earning exemptions into the final stage of the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School, the championship provides an invaluable opportunity to fast-track careers.

“The key objective for The R&A when we started this championship was to increase the breadth of inspirational professional golfers and provide more playing opportunities for aspiring elite amateurs in the region. It serves as an additional platform to complement the work our Asia-Pacific affiliates have put into their high-performance programmes – a pathway from junior to elite amateur, continuing into the arduous journey of professional golf,” Ng explained.

“The championship speaks for itself; it is player-centric, giving our regional elite amateurs and rookie professionals more opportunities to compete on the Asian Development Tour and Asian Tour, to hone their skills and mettle, and to advance their careers while inspiring the next generation of golfers,” he added.

Hole 18 at Saujana Golf & Country Club in Kuala Lumpur

A former competitive player who was a leading light in Singapore’s national team and a professional before switching to golf administration in 2015, Ng understands just how valuable these opportunities are.

“It could be a turning point for any elite amateur or rookie professional, helping to kick-start their careers with a victory and boost their rankings in the bid to secure playing rights on the Asian Tour. I look forward to witnessing all the action at the championship,” said Ng, who joined The R&A in 2021 following a six-year stint with the Singapore Golf Association that culminated in the role of General Manager.

For the ADT’s General Manager, Ken Kudo, this year’s championship holds special meaning as he cut his teeth in the golf industry as Saujana’s club manager from 2009 to 2018.

“I still play frequently at Saujana and remain very close to the management and the working team, so to host the ADT Players Championship presented by The R&A here is special. It brings my two worlds together,” said Kudo.

“Bringing the ADT professionals to my ‘home course’ is exciting, especially with the Palm Course being in its best shape in years. I’m really looking forward to working with the Saujana team again – we have so many fond memories, and I’m eager to add a new chapter to that story,” he elaborated.

Kudo reiterated that the championship embodies the ADT’s shared vision with The R&A to grow the game in the region. “We want to provide as many playing opportunities as possible for up-and-coming professionals and elite amateurs, while also giving seasoned professionals a second chance. For the amateurs, this championship is a wonderful opportunity to gain experience in a professional tournament so they can quickly become comfortable in that high-pressure environment.

“We are extremely thankful to The R&A for believing in the ADT and supporting the Asian Tour through this pathway platform, as well as the PGM Tour for their partnership.” he said.

Saujana’s General Manager, S.A. Nathan, noted that the Palm Course will provide a fitting stage for both the region’s brightest young talents and seasoned professionals. “We are confident that the Palm Course will more than hold its own, as it has proven time and again. With its narrow fairways and signature tricky greens, the course is designed to test every facet of the game, and I am certain we will crown a truly deserving champion.

“It is indeed a great honour to be selected as the venue for the 2026 ADT Players Championship presented by The R&A. Saujana has long enjoyed close ties with both the Asian Tour and The R&A, and we eagerly seized the opportunity to host an event that brings these two esteemed golfing bodies together,” Nathan added.

Thailand’s Amarin Kraivixien captured his first Asian Development Tour title after defeating Italy’s Michele Ortolani in a dramatic two-hole playoff at the SINGHA-SAT ADT Hua Hin Championship 2026 on Sunday.

Amarin birdied the 18th hole in regulation to post an eight-under-par total and force extra holes with Ortolani, who had earlier set the clubhouse target after a closing three-under-par 69.

The THB3 million event was played at Royal Hua Hin Golf Course, Thailand’s oldest golf course celebrating its 100th anniversary, and was co-sanctioned by the Asian Development Tour and Thailand PGA Tour.

The overnight leaders, Morocco’s Ayoub Lguirati and Chinese Taipei’s Su Ching-hung, were unable to convert their advantage after rounds of 77 and 76 respectively, while several players in the leading groups also slipped back on a tense final day.

That opened the door for those chasing from behind, with Amarin and Ortolani both carding 69s to climb into contention. Also shooting 69 were American Joo-young Lee, Thailand’s Newport Laparojkit and Prayad Marksaeng, and Australia’s Peter Wilson.

In the playoff, both players made par at the first extra hole after narrowly missing birdie chances. At the second visit to the 18th, Amarin again found trouble right off the tee but received a fortunate opening to attack the green, leaving himself around eight feet.

Ortolani drove into the fairway but flew his approach over the green. After his third shot came up short of the hole, Amarin seized the moment by holing the birdie putt for victory.

An emotional Kraivixien said the win had come as a surprise after a modest start to the week.

“Excited, nervous, relieved — all sorts of things. A bit blank to be honest at the moment,” he said.

“I didn’t see this coming today at all. After two rounds I was just trying to make the cut because I’m not playing well.

“But after what happened two weeks ago when I lost in a playoff (against fellow ADT player Jonathan Wijono), I honestly had very good confidence.”

The Thai credited a strong third round for changing his outlook. “The third round really jump-started what could happen today,” he said.

He also paid tribute to his local caddie and family support.

“This week all credit to my caddie, a local caddie. Without her I probably would have been blindfolded or just keep guessing the line, so huge, huge credit to her. Also great to have my family here this week. It makes it even more sweet.”

Winning at Royal Hua Hin made the breakthrough even more meaningful.

“To win at this iconic golf course in Thailand, the very first golf course in Thailand, is a dream come true.”

Asked how he would celebrate, the visibly emotional champion smiled.

“Some good food, some really good sleep for sure.”

The victory, his first on an international tour after previous success on domestic circuits, also changes his season plans.

“This will completely change my schedule for the year,” he said. “I’ll have things in my control. It will be nice to pick and choose where I would like to play.

“Obviously the main goal is to get to the main tour, so I will work even harder to make sure I have that opportunity.”

Morocco’s Ayoub Lguirati and Chinese Taipei’s Su Ching-hung will take a share of the lead into the final round of the SINGHA-SAT ADT Hua Hin Championship 2026 after both moved to seven-under-par following Saturday’s third round.

The THB3 million event is being played at Royal Hua Hin Golf Course, Thailand’s oldest golf course celebrating its 100th anniversary, and is co-sanctioned by the Asian Development Tour and Thailand PGA Tour.

Thailand’s veteran Prom Meesawat thrilled the home fans with a brilliant five-under-par 67 to surge into a share of third place, alongside Japan’s Kinjiro Kato, Thailand’s Weerawish Narkprachar and Wit Pitipat, plus Indonesia’s Kevin Akbar.

Meesawat, 41, recovered from an opening bogey at the par-five first and an outward nine of level par before powering home in five under, highlighted by two eagles.

“I didn’t start well, made bogey on the first hole, but I know this course quite well because I grew up here,” said Meesawat.

“I got a birdie back on hole three, made birdie on eight and bogey on nine. Then I set my goal for the back nine because the first two rounds I was five over for the back nine.

“I said I’m going to go low on the back nine.”

He duly delivered with birdie at 10, eagle at 11, birdie at 12, another birdie at 13 and a chip-in eagle at 15.

“I know this course well. If I hit it into a good position, I can putt,” he said.

“Then the tough finish of 16, 17 and 18 into the wind, so I tried to make par for the last three holes.”

Meesawat said Royal Hua Hin becomes even more exacting when the wind rises.

Prom Meesawat of Thailand pictured in action during Round Three of the Singha-SAT ADT Hua Hin Championship at Royal Hua Hin Golf Course on April 24, 2026. Picture courtesy PGA Thailand.

“When the wind blows, it makes the course even more narrow,” he said. “It’s a lot tougher than usual, so you just try to put the ball in the fairway and don’t go into the bushes.

“It’s an old-school golf course. It’s short but it has its own tricks to kill you, especially on the greens.”

The Thai veteran also praised the partnership between the ADT and Thailand PGA Tour.

“To be honest it’s good that we join with the ADT. It’s a good start for the Thai PGA as it gives us world ranking points,” he said.

“It’s an opportunity for Thai players to play on the ADT and maybe go for the next step to the Asian Tour.”

Meesawat added that victory at his home course would be especially meaningful.

“I grew up watching Thaworn, Prayad and Boonchu play here. Before I went to school I would come and watch them tee off.

“It was always my dream to play tournaments here and it would mean a lot to win. I’ve come second here like five times — I’ve never won at my home course,” he laughed.

Lguirati matched the day’s best among the leaders with a six-birdie, one-bogey 67.

“I’m happy with this round,” said the Moroccan. “I made six birdies and one bogey. I hit the ball very well and managed the par fours and par threes very well.

“It puts me in a good position for tomorrow.”

He added that recent equipment changes had boosted his confidence.

“I’m very happy with my new Srixon irons. They feel very good and I feel like my swing is better.”

After finishing 14th on last season’s Order of Merit, Lguirati has bigger ambitions this year.

“I want to finish in the last group. Since the beginning of the year I have been working very hard with my team and I hope to finish in the top 10 this year.”

Su Ching-hung of Chinese Taipei pictured in action during Round Three of the Singha-SAT ADT Hua Hin Championship at Royal Hua Hin Golf Course on April 24, 2026. Picture courtesy PGA Thailand.

Su carded a steady three-under round to join the lead and said patience was crucial in the afternoon breeze.

“When I played the back nine it was more windy, I just had to focus on hitting every shot into the fairway and make par with one or two putts,” he said.

On the par-five 15th, Su produced one of the shots of the day.

“I hit into the fairway and my second shot was about 280. I hit three-wood into the middle of the green.”

He added that the layout felt familiar.

“The course layout is similar to Taiwan so it was quite easy for me. The greens are not very fast but the fairways are firm, so you need some good luck.”

Fifteen-year-old Kato, playing in his first professional event, also continued to impress with a flawless six-under-par 66 featuring two birdies on the front nine and four on the back.

In a tie for eighth place on five-under-par are Thailand’s Chantijiti Kanoksaksakul, Amarin Kraivixien and Nitithorn Thippong, Korea’s Jail Kim and Italy’s Michele Ortolani.

With a packed leaderboard and home hopes high through Meesawat, Sunday’s final round promises a dramatic finish in Hua Hin.

Italy’s Gabriele de Barba and Malaysia’s Shahriffuddin Ariffin will take a share of the halfway lead at the SINGHA-SAT ADT Hua Hin Championship 2026 after both reached six-under-par at Royal Hua Hin Golf Course on Friday.

The THB3 million event is being played at Thailand’s oldest golf course, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary, and is co-sanctioned by the Asian Development Tour and Thailand PGA Tour.

Thailand’s Poom Pattaropong and Warun Iaemgaew are two shots back in joint third place on five under par.

A large group shares fifth place on four under, including Thailand’s Wit Pitipat, American Jooyoung Lee, Indonesia’s Kevin Akbar, Chinese Taipei’s Su Ching-hung, Thailand’s Newport Laparojkit and Nitithorn Thippong, and Italy’s Michele Ortolani.

De Barba credited a hot putter for helping him climb into a share of the lead.

“I played well these two days and especially my putting was so good,” said the Italian.

“I made some good putts on 16 and 17 of around 10 metres.”

He added that Royal Hua Hin demands creativity as well as control.

“This course is very fun to play but it’s also difficult and challenging. It really makes you think and you have to use a lot of imagination.”

De Barba, who began last season with a victory, believes experience can help him mount a stronger campaign this year.

“Last year I started with a win but unfortunately I missed finishing top 10. This year, with a little more experience, I am confident I will do my best.”

Shahriffuddin Ariffin of Malaysia pictured in action during Round Two of the Singha-SAT ADT Hua Hin Championship at Royal Hua Hin Golf Course on April 23, 2026. Picture courtesy PGA Thailand.

Ariffin, meanwhile, said discipline had been the key to his strong position on a course that punishes overly aggressive play.

“Probably I’m playing very solidly, enjoying the golf course,” said the Malaysian. “This golf course is very challenging, you need to play really smart and play fairway, green, fairway, green.

“You cannot be aggressive because there are so many traps and trees.”

He said a pair of chip-ins had played a big part in his round, including one at the last.

“I made two chip-ins today which helped,” he said. “I chipped in for birdie on the last hole, hole nine, from about seven metres.”

Among those sharing fifth, Pitipat and Lee continued to underline their consistency heading into the weekend.

Pitipat said he had relied heavily on his putter after feeling less than comfortable with his swing.

“Honestly, the first two days I didn’t feel completely comfortable with my swing,” said the Thai. “But today my putting was really good. I managed to save everything, made a lot of important putts, and that helped me avoid dropping any shots.”

He also praised the value of the co-sanctioned tournament for local players.

“It’s a great opportunity for Thai players. Having the ADT and ThaiPGA working together is a big step for the game here in Thailand.”

Jooyoung Lee of the USA pictured in action during Round Two of the Singha-SAT ADT Hua Hin Championship at Royal Hua Hin Golf Course on April 23, 2026. Picture courtesy PGA Thailand.

Lee, from Texas, said patience had been crucial on a layout that offers few easy chances.

“It’s challenging, it’s not easy,” he said. “You just have to keep the ball in front of you and try to hit as many fairways and greens as you can, and then if you are lucky make some putts.”

The American is making one of his first appearances on the ADT after narrowly missing out on the final stage of Asian Tour Qualifying School last year.

“I played Asian Tour Q School last year, missed it by one for final stage, then my friend told me there was a Monday qualifier here,” he said. “There’s nothing much to play around home in Texas this week so I thought I might as well fly out and give it a shot.”

With two rounds remaining and the leaderboard tightly packed, the championship remains wide open heading into the weekend. A cut was made at +2 and a total of 66 players will start Round Three. The first groups head off at 6.35am local time with the leading group of Pattaropong, Ariffin and De Barba teeing off at 8.25am.

Thailand’s Warun Iaemgaew fired a superb seven-under-par 29 to take the first-round lead at the SINGHA-SAT ADT Hua Hin Championship 2026, while India’s teenage talent Kartik Singh sits second after an excellent five-under-par 31 on Wednesday.

The THB3 million event is being played at Royal Hua Hin Golf Course, Thailand’s oldest golf course celebrating its 100th anniversary, and is co-sanctioned by the Asian Development Tour and Thailand PGA Tour.

Warun mixed eight birdies with just one bogey and said his round exceeded expectations on one of the region’s most demanding layouts.

“Today was better than expected,” said the Thai, and pointed to his work off the tee as an example.

“My tee shots were good, which gave me opportunities for good approach shots and birdies. A good tee shot is the key here,” he said.

Warun also welcomed the chance for local players to compete in a co-sanctioned event.

“This is a good opportunity for Thai players to play on the ADT,” he said. “A win here would mean a lot to me and I’ll try my best to win here.”

Kartik Singh of India pictured in action during Round One of the Singha-SAT ADT Hua Hin Championship at Royal Hua Hin Golf Course on April 22, 2026. Picture courtesy PGA Thailand.

Just two shots back, 16-year-old Singh continued his rapid rise with seven birdies and two bogeys.

“I played pretty well today. I got off to a good start birdieing the first two holes and I was able to carry that momentum through my round.”

Singh, who turned professional late last year after a decorated amateur career, said the move into the paid ranks has sharpened his game.

“The transition has been really good. Playing as a professional is definitely a different experience playing with the seasoned pros.

“In the professional world everyone is so good, so you really need to be at your best to compete. I think that is pushing me to improve and play well.”

He believes limiting mistakes is the key difference at this level.

“At amateur level, even if you make a couple of mistakes, you can still get away with it. But here, all the other players are playing almost flawlessly, so to be at the top you need to make as few mistakes as possible.”

Singh added that securing promotion to the Asian Tour is one of his main goals this season.

Sharing third place on four-under-par 32 are Italy’s Michele Ortolani, Thailand’s Puwit Anupansuebsai, Thanakorn Thipayachan and Thanapol Charoensuk.

Michele Ortolani of Italy pictured in action during Round One of the Singha-SAT ADT Hua Hin Championship at Royal Hua Hin Golf Course on April 22, 2026. Picture courtesy PGA Thailand.

Ortolani mixed five birdies with a lone bogey at the last after a composed display.

“A little bit frustrated because I was bogey-free until the very last hole,” he said. “Overall I am very happy, but the bogey on the last wasn’t the best.”

The Italian, who has former ADT player Eduardo Lipparelli on the bag this season, said arriving early in Hua Hin had helped him understand the subtleties of the historic layout.

“This is a really tricky course because it is very dry, so the ball kicks unpredictably on the fairways.

“You always need to respect old courses. Give yourself chances to hit the greens, and then if you hole putts, you hole putts.”

Puwit took a more adventurous route to four under, combining six birdies and an eagle with four bogeys after starting on the 10th tee.

The highlight came on his second nine, where he played holes one through six in six under par.

“It was a little crazy but I just kind of let it happen,” said Puwit.

“I made a good birdie on two, then on three I hit a really good six-iron for my second shot, about 200 yards uphill, and made a 12-footer for eagle.”

He said the co-sanctioned event offers an important pathway for local players.

“The co-sanction itself is awesome, giving Thai players an opportunity to play at a higher level and have a shot at the Asian Tour,” he said.

Sharing seventh place, on three under par, are Jaeil Kim of Korea, Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh, Italy’s Gabriele de Barba and the Thai trio of Chanat Sakulpolphaisan, Weerawish Narkprachar and Warit Boonrod.

With the opening round complete, play resumes tomorrow with the first groups scheduled to tee off at 6.30am.