My year-long tenure as president of the Hong Kong Golf Association will end in just a few short weeks and I would like to take the chance to discuss a productive and successful past 12 months.
I'd like to start with the Southeast Asian Amateur Golf Team Championship, also known as the Putra Cup, which Hong Kong hosted in September last year. Played at Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club for the very first time, the young Hong Kong team of Shinichi Mizuno, Jason Hak, Liu Lok-tin and Terrence Ng performed brilliantly to finish in second place. With a little more fortune the team could have won the title for the first time since the inaugural event in 1961. Nevertheless, the result was the best Hong Kong has achieved in a generation and was a reflection of the hard work that all the players and coaching staff, in particular national coach Brad Schadewitz, have put in.
December witnessed one of the most thrilling Hong Kong Opens in history. Sponsored for the final time by UBS, the championship's reputation for excitement was enhanced by the fantastic play of world No 1 Rory McIlroy, who magically holed his bunker shot at the last hole to claim the title for the very first time. Our thanks must go to UBS, who have been a fabulous supporter over the past seven years, and also to the government's Mega Events Fund, whose financial contribution enabled the tournament to secure some of golf's most famous names.
The development of junior golf in Hong Kong has long been a key issue for the HKGA and the continuing success of our young players is testament to that. To that end I would like to highlight EFG Bank's generosity in sponsoring the HKGA's junior development programme. Their support has enabled us to provide more training and tournament participation opportunities for the territory's junior golfers, which has gone a long way to explaining the improved results by Hong Kong players in international events.
My thanks must also go to the golf clubs of Hong Kong for their cooperation with the HKGA. Whether it's the use of the clubs' practice facilities or being able to secure tee times for national team training, their help and understanding has proved invaluable, as has the support of all the volunteers and staff at the HKGA. It is greatly appreciated.
Finally, I would like to extend my best wishes to Peter Aherne as the incoming president. I wish him every success in presiding over the HKGA over the year ahead.
And to all HKGA subscribers, happy golfing!
– David Hui
President HKGA
EFG to Continue Support of HKGA Juniors
EFG Bank has announced that it will continue its sponsorship of the HKGA's junior development programme to the tune of HK$3 million over the next three years.
The private bank, whose relationship with the HKGA commenced in early 2009, has been instrumental in creating increased playing opportunities for Hong Kong junior golfers, said HKGA chief executive Iain Valentine.
"EFG's generosity and commitment to the development of golf in Hong Kong has been nothing short of superb and their continuing involvement is a tremendous boost for all young golfers," said Mr Valentine.
Albert Chiu, chief executive of EFG Bank Asia, and Robert Chiu, the bank's executive chairman, presented the HKGA with a cheque at the annual junior dinner (pictured), which was held at the Hong Kong Football Club in late March.
"We've been excited to see the progress of junior golf in Hong Kong over the past three years, so the decision to continue with our support was one we were very happy to make," said Mr Chiu.
To herald the on-going sponsorship, EFG will host a charity golf day in tandem with the HKGA at Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club on 30 April.
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