Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Masters, the season-ending Tour Championship on the ASEAN PGA Tour, is set for a strong future as the Sabah Tourism Board have announced they will sponsor the event for another three years starting in 2015. 

The popular event was won two weeks ago by Thailand’s Wisut Artjanawat at Sutera Harbour Golf and Country Club and attracted one of the strongest fields of the season.

The Sabah Tourism Board helped revive the event in 2011 after a 10-year hiatus and they have now further cemented their support.

“The Sabah Masters has been a great success since it made its comeback two years ago and so there was no hesitation on Sabah Tourism’s part to continue with our sponsorship,” said Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.

The tournament has a storied history with some great names having won the title including Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant in 1996.

This year marked the third successive season Sutera Harbour has hosted the tournament.

“The tournament provides Sabah Tourism with the perfect vehicle to promote Sabah across the region as it always boasts a strong field and receives comprehensive media coverage,” added Bangkuai.

It will continue to play an important part of the ASEAN PGA Tour, which in 2014 will boast another impressive schedule of more than 10 events across the region.

“We will be announcing our schedule shortly and so we are delighted that the Sabah Tourism Board have pledged their support to the Sabah Masters in the long run and share in our vision our of building a strong circuit for ASEAN players,” said ASEAN PGA executive chairman AC Wong.

World Sport Group, the official commercial partner for the ASEAN PGA, will continue to promote the event and as part of this relationship they produce a one-hour highlight show that is broadcast on FOX Sports.