香港哥爾夫球會呈獻「國際都會高爾夫球錦標賽」 喜迎內地知名球星加入競逐
World City Championship presented by Hong Kong Golf Club brings best of China golf to Hong Kong
[香港，2023年3月17日] 香港哥爾夫球會呈獻「國際都會高爾夫球錦標賽」將於本月23日至26日迎接全球各地頂尖球手蒞臨粉嶺球場同場較技。這個獎金高達100萬美元的亞洲職業巡迴賽（亞巡賽）將成為一個矚目舞台，也讓中國球手在世界各地觀眾面前一展實力。
8位來自中國內地的優秀球員宣布參賽，將與2010年香港高爾夫球公開賽冠軍保爾特（Ian Poulter）和2016年英國公開賽冠軍斯滕森（Henrik Stenson）等一眾國際球星競逐「國際都會高爾夫球錦標賽」。此外，20位本地球員也準備好高舉香港特區的旗幟，迎接萬眾期待的國際高爾夫球盛事回歸香港。
今屆賽事刷新了本地精英球手參賽的紀錄，在全員132個球手陣容中，其中五分之一的球員是來自中國內地和香港。
即將在粉嶺球場出戰的內地球星，包括DP世界巡迴賽球員李昊桐、中巡賽冠軍劉晏瑋，以及職業生涯中擁有5場亞巡賽冠軍的長青球手張連偉。
除了以上幾位有名的中國高爾夫球界傳奇人物外，最近人氣飆升的業餘球手丁文一也獲香港哥爾夫球會邀請參賽。
去年7月，丁文一勇奪美國業餘青少年錦標賽冠軍，成為首個贏得美國高爾夫球協會USGA賽事的內地球員。
此後，這位在北京長大的超新星一直在頂級的職業賽事，如2月的新加坡精英賽中與職業球手較量。他在這些比賽的亮麗表現，讓他成為高爾夫球界最炙手可熱的明日之星。
二度出戰亞巡賽的丁文一表示很期待在粉嶺複合球場上作賽：「我之前在沙特阿拉伯參加過一次亞巡賽。這是一個很好的巡迴賽經驗，我很期待再次參與。是次賽事將有很多優秀球手齊集香港，對每個業餘球手來說，能夠參加職業比賽是一個難得的機會，尤其是這場比賽提供了英國公開賽的參賽資格，我也會積極爭取機會！」
這位18歲的天才球手續說：「我曾經在粉嶺球場練習過一次，但並不是比賽的複合球場。粉嶺球場不是很長距離，但更需要鐵杆的精準性，以及短杆打靠近洞。我感覺我還需要在鐵杆與推杆兩方面改進，以迎接下週的挑戰。」
李昊桐一直是國際高爾夫球賽事的常客。他曾奪得三場歐巡賽勝利，並在2017年英國公開賽上取得歷史性第三名的佳績，令他成為新一代在亞洲最頂尖的球手之一，也是帶領中國高爾夫運動走向世界舞台的佼佼者。
這位27歲的球星期待再次蒞臨香港作賽，他說：「我很高興能夠參與這個全新的錦標賽。粉嶺球場和香港哥爾夫球會歷史悠久，我深信他們必定能夠為球員和球迷舉辦一場精彩的盛事。」
他續說：「我已有一段時間未有來港參賽。相隔多年後再次來港感覺很特別，我十分期待與球迷再次相聚。雖然在主場觀眾面前比賽總會有點壓力，但我會以此為動力，盡力發揮表現。」
李昊桐歡迎賽事有多名中國球手參賽，他表示：「這些球手的參與証明中國高爾夫運動正在蓬勃發展。今次的賽事有很多具潛質的中國年輕球手如丁文一等參加，藉此向全世界的球迷一展身手。」
25歲的劉彥偉的在20/21年度取得個人突破。他在中巡賽的其中一站 —— 鄭州精英賽中勇奪冠軍，令他的中巡賽排名一度衝上第三位。他希望疫情過後，亞洲的賽事陸續復辦，而他也能重整旗鼓，回到個人巔峰狀態。
現年57歲的張連偉為人熟識，他是內地職業高爾夫球員進軍國際球壇的先驅。除了囊括多個亞巡賽冠軍外，他更是首位贏出歐巡賽（即現稱DP世界巡迴賽）賽事的中國球手，在2003年的新加坡大師賽中捧走冠軍奬盃。張連偉不但是多屆香港高爾夫球公開賽的常客，更是一個廣受球迷歡迎的球星。
參與本屆賽事的內地新力軍還包括仝楊、白政愷、陳顧新和陳子豪，他們都是不容忽視的新晉球員。
一連四天的「國際都會高爾夫球錦標賽」免費入場，球迷可於 www.ticketflap.com 登記免費門票。
粉嶺球場不但將上演世界級高爾夫球競技，同場更舉辦與眾同樂的「粉嶺同樂谷」。每天免費為公眾提供各種適合一家大細的娛樂活動，包括高爾夫球體驗、現場音樂表演、國際美食佳餚，以及STEAM兒童及親子活動等。3月25日（星期六）於舊場1號洞更會舉辦經典汽車展，定必成為車迷的打卡熱點。
香港哥爾夫球會呈獻的「國際都會高爾夫球錦標賽」榮獲大型體育事務委員會頒發成為「M」品牌認可活動，標誌著這是集合緊張、精彩和刺激的大型體育活動。這項盛事將協助提升香港作為亞洲體育盛事之都的形象。
[Hong Kong, 17 March 2023]: The World City Championship presented by Hong Kong Golf Club (WCC) is bringing some of the best players from around the planet to Fanling from 23- 26 March, but the US$1 million Asian Tour tournament is also providing a welcome platform for Chinese players to showcase their talents for an international audience.
Eight elite players from the Chinese mainland are set to take on global stars like former Hong Kong Open winner Ian Poulter and The Open champion Henrik Stenson for the WCC, joining 20 locals who have lined up to fly the flag for the SAR as international tournament golf makes its much-anticipated return to town.
When factoring in the large Hong Kong contingent, 20% of the 132-strong World City Championship field will come from Hong Kong and the mainland.
Leading the way on the ground at Fanling will be DP World Tour star Li Haotong, China Tour champion Liu Yanwei, and the evergreen Zhang Lianwei, five-times a winner on the Asian Tour across his illustrious career.
Alongside these established Chinese golf legends is another fast developing star in amateur sensation Ding Wenyi, who received an invitation from the Hong Kong Golf Club.
Ding grabbed headlines around the world last July when he won the US Junior Amateur – becoming the first man from China to win a USGA event.
Since then the Beijing-raised star has been testing himself against the professionals at toptier tournaments such as February’s Singapore Classic - and his reputation as one of the sport's hottest prospects has been growing. He was excited to be making a second Asian Tour appearance and to be taking on the composite course at Fanling.
“I have played on the Asian Tour once before in Saudi Arabia. It’s a great Tour and I am really looking forward to playing again. There are going to be a lot of great golfers in Hong Kong and it would be a great opportunity for any amateur golfer to be able to play with the professionals, especially this tournament provides the qualification chance for the Open. I will do my best to go for it.
“I have played at Fanling once, but not on the tournament composite course, it is not long, but it is a golf course to test the iron play accuracy. I think I might need further work on my iron play and putting to tackle the challenge,” said the 18-year old China phenom.
Li Haotong has been a fixture on the international golf circuit for years, with three victories on the DP World Tour and an historic third place finish at The Open in 2017 establishing him as one of the leading Asian players of his generation - and a ground-breaker in terms of golf in China.
The 27-year old is looking forward to returning to Hong Kong, saying, “I am very excited to play in this new tournament. The Fanling course and Hong Kong Golf Club has a lot of history, and I know they will present an amazing event for the players and the fans.
“It has been a while since I last played in Hong Kong. Being back after all the years feels special and I cannot wait to see all of the fans there again. Of course, there is always pressure to play in front of home crowds, but I will use that as motivation to do my best.”
Li also welcomed the large contingent of Chinees golfers saying, “All of these players are the proof that Chinese golf is booming. There are so many young talented Chinese golfers like Wenyi Ding in the field this time, and this tournament is the platform they need to show the world just how good they are,” he said.
The 25-year-old Liu had a breakout year on the China Tour in 2020/21 with victory in the Zhengzhou Classic helping propel him to third place in the Order of Merit. He’s looking to re-ignite that form as play across Asia continues to return to normal, post-pandemic.
Zhang is meanwhile a star who needs little (re-)introduction, having been a pioneer in terms of golf in China and golfers from China playing internationally.
Alongside his Asian Tour triumphs, the 57-year-old was the first Chinese player to win on the DP World Tour, thanks to victory at the Singapore Masters in 2003 - and he has been a regular and hugely popular visitor to the Hong Kong Open down through the years.
Rounding out the mainland China presence at the WCC will be Tong Yang, Bai Zhengkai, Chen Guxin and Chen Zhihao.
Golf fans in Hong Kong can watch all the action at Fanling free of charge all week - after registering for entry via www.ticketflap.com.
Outside the ropes, there is a host of activities during the tournament to keep visitors engaged, and entertained.
The WCC will boast an array of family-friendly entertainment across the week with golf clinics, live music, international cuisine, a Classic Car Show on Saturday, 25 March, and a STEAM kids and family area.
The World City Championship presented by Hong Kong Golf Club is proud of being an “M” Mark event that helps enhance the image of Hong Kong as Asia’s sports events capital. The “M” Mark awarded by the Major Sports Events Committee, symbolising an intense, spectacular and signature event in the territory sports calendar.
Information and Photo source : Elite Step Asia Limited / World City Championship
