Kuala Lumpur: For the second year running, Chemical Company of Malaysia Berhad (CCM) have stepped forward to support the burgeoning Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour by coming on board as the title sponsor of the PGM-CCM Impian Masters.

The RM150,000 tournament which will take place from March 8-11 at the Impian Golf & Country Club will also act as the season-opening event for the 2012 Asian Development Tour, which rewards the top-three finishers on the Order of Merit with playing rights on the elite Asian Tour in the following season.

Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) chairman, Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid said that CCM’s renewed sponsorship of the fledging Tour was an expression of confidence in the growing success and prominence of PGM Tour’s 19-leg circuit. “From 16 tournaments in the first year, we have grown to 19 and we are confident of showcasing the PGM Tour as a premier circuit in the region,” said Ahmad Sarji.

In total, the PGM Tour will co-sanction six tournaments with the Asian Development Tour this year, establishing itself as a major supporter of the Asian Tour, which is the official sanctioning body for professional tournament golf in Asia.

He added that PGM’s objective of grooming local champions was gaining ground with leading Malaysian golfers showing greater consistency and maturity in their games as well as providing further a boost to nurture prospective young golf professionals who dream of competing on the Asian Tour.

CCM group managing director Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir said that the PGM Tour is becoming a major multi-leg championship in the region and expressed confidence in the efforts of Ahmad Sarji and the PGM in developing a cadre of top notch world-class Malaysian golfers. He later handed over a cheque worth RM200,000 to PGM general manager Mior Abdul Rahman.