Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Rising Malaysian star Ervin Chang received a huge career boost when he inked a sponsorship deal with CIMB Group Holdings Berhad.
The sponsorship comes at an opportune time as Chang embarks on his first full season on the Asian Tour, beginning with this week's IRS Prima Malaysian Open at The Mines Resort & Golf Club. The 25-year-old earned his playing rights on the region’s premier professional circuit by finishing 10th on the Order of Merit of the secondary Asian Development Tour last year.
“I’m honoured and grateful to CIMB for coming forward to support me in my golfing career. I’ve just started out and am trying to make a name for myself. I will try to carry the good name of CIMB overseas when I play in Asian Tour and other events,” said Chang, who competed in four editions of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) with his best finish of tied eighth coming at Singapore‘s Sentosa Golf Club in 2018.
Chang turned professional in mid-2022 after an historic double triumph at the Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam, where he became the first Malaysian to win an individual gold medal in golf and followed up with another victory in the team event. The powerful young golfer enjoyed a stellar amateur career, which included a much-decorated stint in US collegiate golf as a lynchpin of the Liberty University team.
Last May, Chang broke through for his first professional title, winning the Mirai Cup on the Malaysian domestic circuit, the Toyota Tour, and going on to top the Order of Merit. Understandably, his focus in 2024 will be on the Asian Tour.
“I’ll be focusing on the Asian Tour, but during the breaks I will try and play in Asian Development Tour events and Toyota Tour events. It depends on the schedule as I have to make sure there is enough time for me to recover from travelling to different countries, while making sure that I make the best of the opportunities that I get," he said.
The sponsorship signing ceremony was attended by Hannah Yeoh, Malaysia’s Minister of Youth and Sports.
“I applaud CIMB’s efforts in supporting the sporting youth of Malaysia. Their efforts have a tremendous impact on the growth and trajectory of our athletes, and I commend their continued focus in nurturing these talents. I’m excited to see the prospect of this partnership for the vitality of youth and sports in the country,” said Yeoh.
During his junior days, Chang was one of the participants of the inaugural CIMB Junior Golf Development Programme in 2010. The initiative not only provided professional coaching and guidance from coaches of the PGA Tour Academy, but also took the young talents for a training stint at the famed TPC Sawgrass in Florida.
Effendy Shahul Hamid, Chief Executive Officer, Group Consumer and Digital Banking, CIMB Group, likened their sponsorship of Chang to a homecoming. “In many ways this is very much a homecoming for Ervin, as he is one of the beneficiaries of CIMB Group’s numerous junior sports development programmes. We are happy to have been able to play a role in Ervin’s development thus far, and we look forward to partnering with him as he takes his career to the next level,” he said.
Chang noted that the early top-class training and competing in international events such as the AAC played a crucial role in his development as a player. “When you travel overseas, you’re exposed to different conditions from those you’re used to. You have to adapt to different situations, different weather, different course conditions and set-ups. You have to step out of your comfort zone and try to achieve a higher level,” he said.
