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Asian Pro Tour returns to Tianjin after long absence
(China Daily)
Updated: 2004-08-05 06:15
The Tianjin TEDA Open, co-sponsored by Rolls-Royce, is returning to the Asian
Professional Golf Tour after a lapse of five years.
The US$200,000 event will be staged at Tianjin Warner International Golf Club
from August 19-22 and is the 13th leg of the Asian Tour.
The tournament is backed by the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development
Area (TEDA) as its main sponsor and international luxury automaker Rolls-Royce
as the presenting sponsor.
Thailand's star Thammanoon Srirot, who clinched the winning point in Asia's
victory over Japan in the inaugural Dynasty Cup last year, will defend the crown
he won in 1999 when he edged South Korea's Park No-seok by one stroke.
Dynasty Cup is a Ryder Cup format featuring an Asian Select against the
Japanese side.
Park is also entered in the tournament, which pays US$32,300 to the champion.
South Korea's Hur Suk-ho, who has two victories on the Japanese Tour this
season and is ranked No 80 in the world, and former Asian No 1 Lin Keng-chi of
Chinese Taipei are also entered, as are Liang Wenchong and Li Chao, touted as
future stars of China.
The Tianjin TEDA Open marks the start of the second half of the Asian Tour
season, which includes a minimum of 21 tournaments offering US$11.3 million in
total prize money.
Golf's growing popularity in China is reflected by the return of the Tianjin
event and the emergence of new and exciting tournaments, said Asian Tour chief
executive Louis Martin.
"The Tianjin TEDA Open will be the third of six tournaments in China planned
for the Asian Tour this season. It reinforces the rapid rise in popularity of
professional golf in China and augurs well for the game here and also the Asian
Tour.
"As the world's most populous nation, it is only a matter of time before
China produces more great champions in the mold of Zhang Lianwei, a top class
player who has already won numerous titles in Asia and is also the first Chinese
player to win a European Tour tournament.
"The initiative and vision taken by TEDA and also the support from
Rolls-Royce are truly appreciated by the Asian Tour as sponsorship is the
lifeblood of professional sport and will drive the game to greater height in
Asia," said Martin.
Chen Wen-guo, general manager of Beijing Sime Winner Motors - Rolls-Royce's
agent representative - said the automaker is proud to be associated with the
Tianjin TEDA Open.
"The game of golf promotes integrity and excellence with golfers striving for
perfection, and these values are very much associated with the Rolls-Royce
brand. It is an honour for us to play an active role in bringing a world-class
tournament to China and we are confident that Tianjin TEDA Open will be a
successful tournament," said Chen.
Tianjin Warner International Golf Club, which was designed by Ronald Fream
and opened for play in 1998, promises to deliver playing conditions that will
challenge the very best of Asian Tour players.
General manager Ronnie Lee said: "We are thrilled and
excited to have the opportunity to play host to a top class event once again. We
will do our very best to provide playing conditions that are both challenging
and yet enjoyable for the players."
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