SHANGHAI, – Oct. 16, 2004 – A new tournament, the Crowne Plaza Open, Shanghai, will make its debut on the Asian Tour from October 21 to 24 at Tomson Golf Club as professional golf in China continues to make giant strides forward.
A total of 45 players from China, including five amateurs, will have the opportunity to challenge some of Asia's finest players in the US$200,000 tournament. The Crowne Plaza Open will be the fourth tournament in mainland China this year.
Heading the local charge is upcoming youngster Li Chao, a former three-time national amateur champion. Along with Zheng Wen-gen, one of the pioneers of the professional game in China, Li is tipped to challenge for the $32,300 top prize.
Asian Tour stars who have signed up for the event, the 17th leg of this season's schedule, include the in-form Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, recent winner of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters, India's Rahil Gangjee, veteran Boonchu Ruangkit of Thailand and Singapore's number one Mardan Mamat.
Former Asian number one Kyi Hla Han, who recently qualified for the World Cup with Soe Kyaw Naing, will also be in the fray in Shanghai. It was in this city that Han recorded his biggest career victory when he won the 1999 Volvo China Open en route to becoming the region's top player.
Other names to look out for include young Australian Adam Groom, who is currently ranked 15th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and Chinese Taipei's Chen Yuan-chi, who enjoyed two top-five outings last month.
A return to Tomson Golf Club will bring back good memories for Groom, a former Australian national amateur player, as he finished tied fifth in the BMW Asian Open, jointly sanctioned with the European Tour, at this venue in May.
With the Crowne Plaza Open being the start of the final lap for the Asian Tour season, the battle will also be on for players to ensure that they finish inside the top-60 of the Order of Merit in order to secure their full playing rights for next year.
Amongst the players who are outside the top-60 include former Tour winner Danny Chia of Malaysia, promising youngsters Gerald Rosales of the Philippines and Singaporean Lam Chih Bing.
Asian Tour Chief Executive Louis Martin was delighted to welcome the Crowne Plaza Open onto the 2004 schedule. "It is a pleasure to see a new event develop in mainland China. Golf in this part of the world is growing rapidly and it will benefit the Asian players as they continue to strive to improve," said Martin.
"On behalf of the players, I would like to thank Crowne Plaza for their title sponsorship of this inaugural tournament. We have forged a strong partnership with the China Golf Association and believe that it will benefit golf in China and the region."
