Seniors on show in Brunei

The European Seniors Tour will team up with Aberdeen Asset Management to stage an historic visit to Brunei next season for the Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters, to be played over the Jack Nicklaus designed Empire Hotel and Country Club from February 26 – March 1, 2009. The Empire Hotel and Country Club, built upon a stunning cliff top location, has hosted the Asian Tour’s Brunei Open since 2006 and will welcome former Ryder Cup Captains Bernard Gallacher and Sam Torrance for the Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters next year, the Seniors Tour’s first tournament in the region. The Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters is sure to have a festival atmosphere as the beginning of the tournament week will coincide with Brunei’s National Day which falls on Monday, February 23 next year. Martin Gilbert, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Asset Management, said: “We are proud to continue our support of the European Seniors Tour, following our successful three year association with the Senior Open Championship. Aberdeen Asset Management's sponsorship of the Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters combines our long-standing commitments to the Asia Pacific region and to golf. ” Shuif Hussein, Chief Executive of the Stapleford Forum, said: “The Stapleford Forum is the business and networking forum of Stapleford Park and we are delighted to be involved in the first European Seniors Tour event in Asia. We are honoured to play a role in promoting Brunei to the UK and Europe and look forward to a reunion of the biggest names in golf in one of Asia's best resorts.” Andrew White, Chief Executive of tournament Promoters WSM Sponsorship, said: “Seniors golf is important to WSM. We are the current leading independent promoter on the European Seniors Tour and run events throughout the world including Barbados, Jersey and Poland therefore we are keen to see the schedule grow not only in the number of tournaments but in the territories into which we are taking Seniors Golf. “We are also in the middle of brokering a major international TV deal which will serve to promote not only the tournament but Brunei as a leading global golf destination.” Charlie Perring, Deputy Managing Director of the European Seniors Tour, said: “We are delighted to have this opportunity to visit such an exciting destination as Brunei, which will be a first for the European Seniors Tour. “Our thanks must go to our title sponsors Aberdeen Asset Management, the Government of Brunei and to our Promoters WSM Sponsorship for enabling this tournament to take place. We look forward to the challenge that the Empire Golf & Country Club will provide for us and the part we can play in promoting Brunei to a worldwide audience.”