HONG KONG, 19 Apr 2017, (HK Golfer News Wire) - Hong Kong’s golfing golden girl Tiffany Chan Tsz-ching has confirmed she will compete in the Hong Kong Ladies Open at Fanling this summer, scene of her historic breakthrough victory in 2016 which propelled her onto the international stage.
To be staged over the Old Course at the Hong Kong Golf Club from 9 to 11 June, the third edition of the popular tournament, the first and only ladies’ event in Hong Kong in which players earn Rolex World Ranking points, will also welcome a title sponsor for the very first time with EFG Bank backing the event in a three-year sponsorship deal.
The Swiss private bank has said it will work closely with the Hong Kong Golf Club, which launched the event in 2015, on raising the tournament’s profile and strengthening the quality of the field in order to put Hong Kong on the world map of ladies’ golf. The three-day championship, which will be sanctioned by the China LPGA, the LPGA of Taiwan and the Ladies Asian Golf Tour, will now be known as the 2017 EFG Hong Kong Ladies Open. The 54-hole event is also supported by the Hong Kong Professional Golfers’ Association and the Hong Kong Golf Association, while the official charity partner is Friends of Asia Hong Kong.
EFG Bank is no stranger to the local golf scene having supported junior golf in the city through its sponsorship of the Hong Kong Golf Association’s (HKGA) junior development programme between 2009 and 2015.
23-year-old Chan, who has enjoyed an excellent season representing the University of Southern California in her final year of college, said she is excited to be competing on her home course in front of the Hong Kong galleries once again.
The Hong Kong Golf Club member, one of only three amateur golfers to qualify for the Rio Olympics after claiming her play-off victory 10 months ago, said:
“I’m really looking forward to coming home and defending my title at the Hong Kong Ladies Open. The last year has been really amazing and I am very thankful for all the support I have received from friends and family from around the world. It all started at Fanling when I came through a tense finish to win, which gave me a lot of confidence.
“Playing at the Olympics in Rio was an experience I’ll never forget. Since then I’ve been competing in a lot of events in the US, including the LPGA Q-School, which was special. It’s all helped me improve my game and I hope I can bring all of that with me to Fanling and perform well again.
“It is excellent news that EFG Bank will be the title sponsor of my home tournament over the next three years. I benefited from the EFG Bank & Hong Kong Golf Association junior programme, which guided me through the start of my career and no doubt EFG Bank's involvement with the Hong Kong Ladies Open will help grow the event, and raise the profile of ladies’ golf in Hong Kong, and I look forward to being part of this journey”, the Tuen Mun-born Chan added.
The tournament will see over 100 of professional and amateur golfers battle it out for a share of the US$150,000 prize purse. There will be a cut after two rounds, with only the top half of the field competing on the final day.