(SHENZHEN, China) – The Mission Hills Jack Nicklaus Junior Championship will be played at Mission Hills Shenzhen for the fifth consecutive year, giving a further boost to junior golf development in the Asia-Pacific region.
The 54-hole, stroke play competition will take place May 23-25 on the Nicklaus-designed World Cup Course. It will boast its largest field yet with 120 players from China, Hong Kong, Chinese Tapei, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea and the United States. They will compete in four divisions: Boys Under 18, Boys Under 15, Girls Under 18 and Girls Under 15.
The Overall Winner in both the Boys and Girls categories, along with the top three players in each division, will receive invitations to play in the Nicklaus Junior Championship, played July 7-8, 2012, at Bear Lakes Country Club (Links Course) near Jack Nicklaus’ South Florida home in the United States.
The Overall Winner in both Boys & Girls Category will also gain automatic entry into the Mission Hills Golf Series Junior Tour Grand Final and Faldo Series Asia Grand Final at Mission Hills in 2013.
“We’re honored to once again partner with Jack Nicklaus in the fifth year of this competition here at Mission Hills,” said Tenniel Chu, Vice Chairman, Mission Hills Group. “Jack’s passion for growing golf around the world, and particularly here in Asia, is admirable. Making golf both accessible and affordable to everyone, but particularly to juniors, is a sentiment we wholeheartedly share.”
Speaking ahead of the event, Jack Nicklaus commented, “This event continues to enjoy significant growth each year, and that is a testament to the commitment by Mission Hills and the Chu family to grow the game throughout China and Asia. I wish all the competitors the very best of luck and hope that this is just the beginning of a lifetime of success and enjoyment within the game.”
First staged in 2008, the Mission Hills Jack Nicklaus Junior Championship offers coveted R&A World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points to participants. It is open to juniors of all nationalities under 18 years of age with maximum handicaps of 24 for girls and 18 for boys.
Created with the support of Jack Nicklaus, the game’s greatest champion and one of the true icons in sports, the Mission Hills Jack Nicklaus Junior Championship is designed to promote junior golf both in China and abroad. In line with Jack’s commitment to junior golf development, it is Mission Hills’ aim to create opportunities for juniors to develop and compete against each other under tournament conditions.
Mission Hills’ other commitments to junior golf include its role as official home of the Faldo Series Asia, creation of the Mission Hills Golf Series Junior Tour, instruction programs at its three golf academies specifically geared toward young players, and regular scheduling of clinics from greats of the game like Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Nick Faldo and Annika Sorenstam.
About Mission Hills Group
The Mission Hills Group, owner and operator of Mission Hills Shenzhen and Mission Hills Hainan, is the pioneer in China’s fledgling hospitality, sports and leisure industry.
Mission Hills, recognized as the leading golf brand in the world and synonymous with high-end, luxurious residences of rare and exquisite design, has created two superb leisure and wellness resorts. It has held more than 100 international tournaments, including the 1995 World Cup of Golf and the Tiger Woods China Challenge in 2001. In 2007, Mission Hills began its role as host of an unprecedented 12 editions of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup.
Mission Hills Shenzhen
Stretching across the lush, rolling hills of southern China, Mission Hills Shenzhen is the country’s premier golf club, and also the “World’s Largest Golf Club” as accredited by the Guinness World Records. The property is home to 12 signature courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye, Greg Norman, Nick Faldo, Annika Sorenstam, Ernie Els, Jose Maria Olazabal, Vijay Singh, David Leadbetter, David Duval, Jumbo Ozaki and Zhang Lian Wei.
Mission Hills Shenzhen is a full-service, luxury resort, featuring four clubhouses, three award-winning spas, a five-star hotel, three golf academies (including one from world-renowned instructor Cindy Reid), Asia’s largest tennis facility with 51 tennis courts and professional tennis academy, and numerous fine dining establishments serving cuisine from around the world.
Mission Hills Hainan
Mission Hills Hainan lies in the volcanic region of exotic Hainan Island, China. The resort sets a new standard in leisure, recreation and wellness experiences. Nestled amid lush, green gardens, it caters to golf enthusiasts and comprises specially-designed golf courses, each incorporating native lava rock formations. Other state-of-the-art features include 518 elegantly designed guest rooms and suites, a three-story clubhouse, China’s first Hank Haney Golf Academy, meeting facilities, 12 world-class restaurants, a fully-equipped sports and recreation center, Hainan’s only aquatic theme park, therapeutic volcanic mineral springs, a spa oasis, and shopping arcade.
Mission Hills Hainan’s Blackstone Course hosted the inaugural Mission Hills Star Trophy in October 2010, a ground-breaking celebrity pro-am golf tournament for Asia. It also hosted the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in November 2011. A magnificent addition to Hainan’s tropical island paradise, Mission Hills Hainan is poised to become the island’s premier sanctuary, attracting visitors from around the globe.
Getting There: Mission Hills Hainan is 15 minutes from Haikou Meilan International Airport (HAK). Flights from major cities throughout Asia – including Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore – are available on Air China (Star Alliance member), Asiana (Star Alliance member), China Eastern Airlines (SkyTeam Alliance member), China Southern Airlines (SkyTeam Alliance member), Hainan Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, KLM, Shanghai Airlines (Star Alliance member) and more.
For more information about Mission Hills, visit www.missionhillschina.com, email info@missionhillschina.com, or call (852) 2122 1616 (Hong Kong) — (86 755) 2802 0888 (Shenzhen) — (86 769) 8728 8888 (Dongguan) — (86 898) 6868 3888 (Hainan).
Contact:
Stephen Reynolds
Buffalo Communications
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sreynolds@buffalocommunications.com
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