NEWS RELEASE

Nusajaya, a major sponsor of Iskandar Johor Open 2008

NUSAJAYA, a key driver of Iskandar Malaysia, is now a co-title sponsor of the Iskandar Johor Open (IJO) which will be played from Oct 30 to Nov 2 at the Royal Johor Country Club in Johor Bahru.

Under this sponsorship agreement concluded last week, the tournament will officially be known as “Iskandar Johor Open, presented by Nusajaya”.

Nusajaya, a new regional city spread over 24,000-acres, is taking shape in South West Johor. The master developer of the massive integrated urban development is UEM Land Berhad.

“We are building a world class city and we‘re very happy to be associated with the IJO, which is a world class golf tournament,” said UEM Land managing director Wan Abdullah Wan Ibrahim.

This catalyst development, which is the biggest in South East Asia, is designed to offer significant investment, financial and business opportunities for local and foreign entrepreneurs and investors.

It will feature eight signature developments – Johor State New Administrative Centre, Southern Industrial and Logistics Centre, Puteri Harbour waterfront development, Medical Park, EduCity, International Destination Resort and Nusajaya Residences.

Befitting this world-class profile, Nusajaya has now lent its name as one of the two title sponsors of the IJO, the other being the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA).

The championship, which is into its second year this year, will see some 156 players from 25 countries vie for the US$500,000 (RM1.7 million) prize money, making it one of the biggest golf tournaments in the country in terms of the purse.

Leading the challenge will be two time US Open winner, Retief Goosen, who is touted as one of the best golfers of his generation, having captured six PGA Tour wins and 14 European Tour wins since he turned professional in 1990.

A stellar list of big names from the Asian Tour will also vie for the purse, including defending champion Artemio Murakami of the Philippines and two former Asian Tour Order of Merit winners – Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wirachant of Thailand.

South Korean teen sensation, Noh Seung-Yul will also be among the top foreign players joining the fray.

Some 20 Malaysian pros will be among the starting field, namely Ben Leong, Danny Chia, Iain Steel and Airil Rizman Zahary.

The IJO is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Malaysian Golf Association, and supported by the Johor State Government, in addition to IRDA and Nusajaya.

Asian Tour Production will be the official TV production company, while the media partner is ESPN Star Sports which will broadcast the event ‘live” between 12pm and 4pm on Oct 30-31 and from 1pm to 5pm on Nov 1-2.

Tournament spokesman Manjit Majid Abdullah said the IJO has to date signed up 14 official suppliers and sponsors, including Kuok Brothers and Danga Bay. The others are TaylorMade, Ricoh, Srixon, Carlsberg and Winston Wine.



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