IBM, KFC, Rolex, Zurich to help support groundbreaking amateur golf event
HONG KONG – IBM, KFC, Rolex and Zurich Financial Services Group have agreed to become sponsors of the Asian Amateur Championship, event officials announced today.
The inaugural championship, which will take place at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, China, 29 Oct. – 1 Nov. 2009, was announced in February as a joint initiative to grow the game by the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation, the Masters Tournament and The R&A. An invitation to play in the 2010 Masters Tournament awaits the winner, while both the winner and the runner-up will gain a place in International Final Qualifying for The Open Championship being played next year at St Andrews.
“Valuable partners are integral in fulfilling our mission and ensuring the event’s success,” said Tommy Lee, Chairman of the APGC, the governing body of the Asian Amateur Championship. “Our goal is to create heroes throughout Asia that will, in turn, inspire others to take up this great game. IBM, KFC, Rolex and Zurich share this vision and will help make it possible for our objective to be achieved.”
The 120-player field will be comprised of the top male amateurs in the region representing 34 countries. Play will consist of 72 holes of stroke play on Mission Hills Golf Club’s World Cup Course with a cut coming after 36 holes.
For more information on the Asian Amateur Championship, please visit www.asianamateurchampionship.com.
Notes to Editors:
Asia Pacific Golf Confederation
The APGC is the representative body for national golf associations throughout Asia-Pacific, operating from its headquarters in Melbourne, Australia. Golf in the Asia-Pacific region is growing at a considerable rate. There are approximately 18 million golfers and 4,000 golf courses in the region. The APGC assists member organisations in the development of golf in their respective countries, works to ensure adherence to the Rules of Golf as approved by The R&A, and partners with the International Golf Federation in the promotion of golf.
The Masters
Inspired by its founders, Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts, the Masters Tournament has embraced its obligation and seized opportunities to promote the game since the tournament’s inception in 1934. The efforts of the Masters on behalf of the game of golf are aimed to preserve its integrity, celebrate sportsmanship, applaud champions, positively affect people in need through philanthropy, and give all that is possible back to the game. The Masters is focused on providing stewardship for the game, especially for amateur players and youth around the world.
The R&A
Based in St Andrews, The R&A is golf’s governing body and organiser of The Open Championship. The R&A is committed to working for golf and operates with the consent of 136 organisations from the amateur and professional game and on behalf of over 30 million golfers in 123 countries. Using funds generated by The Open Championship, The R&A promotes golf development, rules education and best practice for sustainable golf course management throughout the world.
IBM
For more information about IBM, please visit www.ibm.com.
KFC
KFC Corporation, based in Louisville, Ky., is the world’s most popular chicken restaurant chain specializing in Original Recipe®, Extra Crispy™ and Colonel’s Crispy Strips® with home-style sides, Honey BBQ Wings, and freshly made chicken sandwiches. There are more than 14,000 KFC outlets in more than 100 countries and territories around the world, serving some eight million customers each day. KFC Corporation is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., Louisville, Ky. (NYSE: YUM.)
Rolex
Leadership, the pursuit of excellence and precision are words synonymous with both Rolex and Golf. Since 1967 with Arnold Palmer, Rolex has developed relationships within the sport. Patron of The Open Championship and International Partner of The Masters, the Asian Amateur Championship is the latest sponsorship activity of Rolex and it clearly demonstrates its will to support golf and its development worldwide.
Zurich
Zurich Financial Services Group (Zurich) is an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in North America and Europe as well as in Asia Pacific, Latin America and other markets. Founded in 1872, the Group is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. It employs approximately 60,000 people serving customers in more than 170 countries.
Mission Hills
Mission Hills Golf Club is the world’s largest golf complex as accredited by the Guinness Book of World Records. Its twelve 18-hole golf courses are designed by the game’s greatest players and course architects, and spread across an area of over 20 square kilometers from Shenzhen to Dongguan in Southern China, just 30 minutes outside of Hong Kong. Mission Hills has made a name for itself in the world of premier golf through its pioneering role in developing golf in China and the region, and being host to some of the continent’s most important golf tournaments.
Contact:
Steve Ethun
Director of Communications, Augusta National Golf Club
spethun@augustanational.com
Malcolm Booth
Assistant Director – Head of Communications, The R&A
malcolmbooth@randa.org
