香港哥爾夫球會呈獻「國際都會高爾夫球錦標賽」世界頂尖高球手雲集香港爭盃奪冠
World-class golf swings into city with World City Championship presented by Hong Kong Golf Club
[香港，2023年3月21日]，由香港哥爾夫球會呈獻的「國際都會高爾夫球錦標賽」在世界高爾夫賽事日程中暌違三年後，勢必成為本地以至全球體壇的焦點。這場體育盛事將於本月23日至26日（周四至周日）在粉嶺球場舉行，來自世界各地共132位高球手列陣，以球技比試實力，誓要捧盃贏得冠軍殊榮。
參與是次大賽的5位國際和本地高球手，今日在大會的特意安排下乘坐天星小輪暢遊維多利亞港，感受東方之珠的迷人魅力。他們對維港兩岸的美景都讚口不絕，認為香港是個可一再重臨的城市。之後，他們才出席新聞發布會，與傳媒見面。
是次大賽，除邀得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）參賽外，賽事還雲集了亞洲知名球星，包括亞巡賽獎金王及首個打進美巡賽的泰國球員阿費巴拉特（Kiradech Aphibarnrat），他的同胞傑尼瓦塔納隆（Jazz Janewattananond）亦宣布參賽；另外兩位前香港高爾夫球公開賽冠軍奧爾斯比（Wade Ormsby）與亨特（Scott Hend）也將列陣爭奪這次冠軍殊榮。
球手陣容中還有亞太地區的超新星，包括本地剛轉職業的許龍一和張雄熙，以及泰國業餘球手尚塔納努瓦特（Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat）和內地業餘球手丁文一。
許龍一獲香港哥爾夫球會委任為其中一位大使，有關任命今日於新聞發布會上公布。許龍一今年初贏得亞巡賽全卡後轉戰職業，且狀態大勇。他在泰國國際系列賽中以低標準桿12桿的成績並列第34位，並在上周印度舉行的DGC 公開賽中再次打入決賽輪，最終並列第59位。
現年46歲的斯滕森與亞洲的聯繫可追溯到20多年前，來自瑞典的他在職業生涯中一直是高爾夫球運動的全球推廣大使。但本周的「國際都會高爾夫球錦標賽」卻是這位2016年英國公開賽冠軍首次親臨體會亞洲高爾夫球大賽的風采，他也希望藉着此行加深了解高爾夫在亞洲的發展情況。
斯滕森表示：「我們能看到亞洲高爾夫球界的發展和進步，亞洲球員的名字在世界各地賽事中如雨後春筍般人才輩出；大家同時亦看到業餘精英有機會在奧古斯塔（Augusta）參賽，證明了這裡多年來滋養了不少亞洲選手。」
現年47歲的保爾特一直是粉嶺球場的傳奇人物，他在2010年的香港高爾夫球公開賽中以創紀錄的低22個標準桿成爲賽事盟主。與斯滕森一樣，在他的職業生涯中同樣是不遺餘力地推動亞洲高球運動，是不少高球愛好者的偶像。
保爾特表示：「好開心我一直獲得香港球迷的熱情支持。能夠再次來港參賽，我感到十分興奮。每次在亞洲參賽，我們都會發現新的天才球員湧現，我熱切期待能夠和他們同場競技。以能當他們爸爸的年紀和他們比試，我相信我的成熟智慧和豐富經驗會是我的最大優勢。」
參賽球員除了爭奪高達100萬美元的獎金外，「國際都會高爾夫球錦標賽」還取得The R&A 認證，成爲「英國公開賽」資格賽系列的三場亞洲區賽事之一，提供在本年7月於皇家利物浦高爾夫俱樂部（Royal Liverpool Golf Club）舉行的第151屆英國公開賽的參賽資格。
保爾特補充說：「能在賽事中獲得英國公開賽的參賽資格，這對亞巡賽和香港來說都是一件可喜之事。。」
對斯滕森來說，在粉嶺球場作賽一直是他籌劃之一，這次終於如願以償。 他表示：「當我想到亞洲的高爾夫球賽時，有幾個球場經常在我腦海中浮現，很明顯香港和粉嶺球場就是其中之一。我真的很期待這次參賽，同時也希望能碰上本地精英球手。」
香港哥爾夫球會會長郭永亮在歡迎是次參賽的球員致詞時表示：「闊別三年後，國際高爾夫賽事終於回歸香港，我代表球會再次歡迎世界級球手和觀眾再次來到粉嶺球場觀賽，這是令人十分鼓舞的事情。登記索取門票進場觀賽事的球迷和市民非常踴躍。社會大眾對今次賽事的熱烈回響，令球會上下都十分振奮。事實上，參與賽事的球手可謂陣容強勁，既有威名遠播的冠軍好手，亦有本地的超新星，相信會為大家帶來精彩的激戰；而今屆首辦的『粉嶺同樂谷』同樣為大家帶來一系列娛樂性豐富的節目。今次球會舉辦一連四天的體壇精彩盛事，歡迎大家進場親身體驗箇中精彩。」
舉辦首屆「國際都會高爾夫球錦標賽」之後，球會將在10月舉辦女子歐洲巡迴賽賽事之一「沙特阿美石油團體系列賽」（Aramco Team Series），而香港歷史最悠久的職業體育賽事——第62屆「香港高爾夫球公開賽」亦將於今年11月復辦。
香港哥爾夫球會呈獻「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。
圖片說明：
圖1 – 斯滕森（左）和保爾特（右）一同於維港前揮桿，為香港哥爾夫球會呈獻「國際都會高爾夫球錦標賽」揭開序幕。
圖2 – 2016年英國公開賽冠軍斯滕森（左）和2010年香港高爾夫球公開賽冠軍保爾特（右）為香港哥爾夫球會呈獻「國際都會高爾夫球錦標賽」揭開序幕。
圖3 – （左至右）：星級球手斯滕森、奧爾斯比、許龍一、阿費巴拉特和保爾特與香港哥爾夫球會會長郭永亮先生（左三）一同出席「國際都會高爾夫球錦標賽」官方拍攝活動。
圖4 – （左至右）：斯滕森、奧爾斯比、許龍一、阿費巴拉特和保爾特一同登上天星小輪，為香港哥爾夫球會呈獻「國際都會高爾夫球錦標賽」揭開序幕。
圖5 – （左至右）：斯滕森、許龍一和保爾特一同慶祝暌違三年的國際高爾夫球盛事——首屆「國際都會高爾夫球錦標賽」回歸香港。
圖6 – （左至右）保爾特、斯滕森、奧爾斯比、阿費巴拉特和許龍一拉開融合中國藝術與香港哥爾夫球會元素的書法捲軸，標誌國際高爾夫球盛事回歸香港，並為首屆「國際都會高爾夫球錦標賽」揭開序幕。
圖7 – （左至右）香港高爾夫球總會行政總裁賴以尊、香港哥爾夫球會會長郭永亮、球手保爾特、斯滕森、奧爾斯比、阿費巴拉特和許龍一、香港哥爾夫球會賽事委員會主席林詩鍵和香港哥爾夫球會副會長呂慶耀出席今日「國際都會高爾夫球錦標賽」球星新聞發布會。
圖8 – （左至右）世界頂尖球手保爾特、斯滕森、奧爾斯比、阿費巴拉特和本地超新星許龍一準備迎接本周四起於粉嶺香港哥爾夫球會舉行的「國際都會高爾夫球錦標賽」。
[Hong Kong, 21 March 2023]: After three years away from the international golfing calendar, Hong Kong returns with the World City Championship presented by Hong Kong Golf Club (WCC), which will focus a global spotlight on the state of the game locally – and in Asia – as the best players from the region - and its rising stars - are set to take on Fanling from 23-26 March 2023.
As well as the tournament headliners – European legends Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson – this week’s WCC field features well-established Asian stars in Order of Merit winners Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Thailand’s first player on The PGA Tour, his compatriot Jazz Janewattananond, and a pair of former Hong Kong Open winners from Australia in Wade Ormsby and Scott Hend.
There are also the region’s promising young talents, including freshly-minted Asian Tour cardcarrying Hong Kong professionals Taichi Kho and Matthew Cheung, and decorated amateurs Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat of Thailand, already a winner on the Asian Tour, and China’s Ding Wenyi, the current US Junior Amateur champion.
Kho, who today was announced as an official Hong Kong Golf Club ambassador, has got his pro career off to a solid start since making the switch from the amateur ranks last month, having figured prominently at the recent International Series Thailand before finishing in a tie for 34th, as well as ending last week’s DGC Open in a tie for 59th.
The 46-year-old Stenson’s connections with the region date back more than 20 years as across the course of his career the Swede has been a global ambassador for the sport. But The WCC will be his first taste of the game, Hong Kong Golf Club-style, and the 2016 Open champion arrives keen to check up on developments in Asia.
“We've seen the growth, we've seen the improvement, and you see it on every Tour around the world - you see names popping up, strong players coming out of Asia,” said Stenson. “You see the amateurs getting the opportunity to play at Augusta and [talent has] just been kind of drip feeding from Asia for a long, long time.”
The 47-year-old Poulter has long been a Fanling fixture and wrote his name in the history books with a record-setting 22-under-par final score when he captured the Hong Kong Open in 2010. Like Stenson, the Englishman has throughout his career helped champion the game across Asia – while continuing to be one of the most popular visitors among golf fans everywhere he goes.
“In Hong Kong there has always been fantastic support,” said Poulter. “The local level of support has always been fantastic. I'm definitely excited about the opportunity to come back. Every time we play in Asia, we see new, incredible golf talent coming through. So I'm expecting to see some youngsters. I'm old enough to be their father - but hopefully I'm older and wiser enough to still keep them at bay for a bit longer.”
As well as the US$1 million purse that’s up for grabs, the WCC offers players a chance to play themselves into the 151st Open Championship, which will be staged at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in July, as it has been selected as one of the three Asian tournaments that make up The R&A’s Open Qualifying Series (OQS).
“This is a big thing for the Asian Tour, for Hong Kong to have,” said Poulter. We can go there, we can play a golf course I know and hopefully we can go and qualify for the Open Championship at the same time.”
For Stenson, a trip out to the historic New Territories layout has long been on the agenda. Finally he gets to fulfill a desire to check the Hong Kong Golf Club out for himself.
“When I'm thinking about golf in Asia, there's a couple of courses that come to mind and, obviously, Hong Kong and Fanling is one of them,” said the Swede. “I'm really looking forward to coming in there and also to seeing some of the local talent.
At the press conference following a special ferry tour of the city’s magnificent harbour, Hong Kong Golf Club Captain Andy Kwok welcomed the players and the return of international golf to the city:
“The Club is thrilled to welcome back world-class golfers and spectators to the fairways of Fanling after such a long break. There has been really great interest in the tournament, which is reflected in the extremely large number of fans who have already registered for tickets, so this is all very encouraging. We have a wonderful field of competitors, including a great mix of household names and really talented local players, and many fun-filled, off-course activities for spectators to enjoy, so we are all set for four days of fantastic action,” said Mr Kwok.
It is the start of an active season of international competition at Fanling. In addition to hosting the inaugural WCC, the Club will also stage the Aramco Team Series Hong Kong, a premier Ladies European Tour event, in October, whilst the 62nd edition of the Hong Kong Open, Hong Kong’s oldest professional sporting event, makes a welcome return in November.
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.
Photo Captions:
Photo 1 – L to R: Henrik Stenson and Ian Poulter swing into Hong Kong for the World City Championship presented by Hong Kong Golf Club.
Photo 2 – L to R: 2016 The Open champion Henrik Stenson and 2010 Hong Kong Open winner Ian Poulter roll into Hong Kong for the World City Championship presented by Hong Kong Golf Club.
Photo 3 – L to R: Star players Henrik Stenson, Wade Ormsby, Taichi Kho, Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Ian Poulter join Andy Kwok (blazer) Captain of the Hong Kong Golf Club at today’s photo call.
Photo 4 – L To R: Star Players on the Star Ferry: Henrik Stenson, Wade Ormsby, Taichi Kho, Kiradech Aphibarnrat, and Ian Poulter celebrate the World City Championship presented by Hong Kong Golf Club.
Photo 5 – L to R: Henrik Stenson, Taichi Kho and Ian Poulter mark the return of the first international golf tournament to the city in three years in this week’s World City Championship presented by Hong Kong Golf Club.
Photo 6 – L TO R: Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson, Wade Ormsby, Kiradech Aphibarnrat, and Taichi Kho unroll ceremonial Chinese scrolls to mark the return of tournament golf to Hong Kong with the World City Championship presented by Hong Kong Golf Club. The scrolls incorporate art and calligraphy in spelling out the event title and hole-in-one.
Photo 7 – Group photo L to R: Danny Lai, CEO of the Hong Kong Golf Association, Andy Kwok, Captain of the Hong Kong Golf Club, Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson, Wade Ormsby, Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Taichi Kho, Kenneth Lam, Chairman, Competitions Committee, HKGC, and Bryant Lu, Vice-Captain of the Hong Kong Golf Club at today’s meet the players press conference.
Photo 8 – L to R: World golf Stars return to Hong Kong: Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson, Wade Ormsby, Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Taichi Kho welcome the World City Championship to Hong Kong.
Information and Photo source : Elite Step Asia Limited / World City Championship
