(Londonderry, NH) – Danish brand ECCO – a leading global manufacturer of innovative footwear – announces that it has signed Chinese golf star Wu Ashun, who will compete in the brand’s Tour Hybrid model throughout the 2013 season.
Ashun, who recently became only the second Chinese player to qualify for the Open Championship, will also showcase the ECCO logo on his shirt collar and participate in the brand’s marketing initiatives. The 28-year-old competed on the European, Asian, Japan Golf and OneAsia Tours in 2012. He captured the JGT Toshin Golf Tournament last season, while also recording top-25 finishes at nine other tournaments, including the European Tour BMW Masters.
Considered by many to be China’s top golfer under age 30, Ashun was the first Chinese player to win on the JGT and is currently No. 179 on the Official World Golf Ranking. He represented Asia as a member of Royal Trophy winning team in 2012 and after first being introduced to the game about a decade prior. The son of a truck driver and municipal worker, he was a star basketball player and had never heard of golf before representatives from a charity background golf coach visited his school looking for potential talent.
“Wu Ashun is already a renowned player in Asia and has the potential to become a recognized name globally with continued strong performances,” says Jesper Thuen, ECCO Global Sponsorship and PR Manager – Golf. “He’ll be at the core of our marketing and PR work in China, which is an exceptionally strong and growing market for the ECCO Golf business.”
The first-ever classic crossover golf shoe, Tour Hybrid features a traditional leather upper design atop the award-winning Street outsole featuring the ECCO dynamic traction system (E-dts). It combines hand-crafted elegance with advanced shoemaking technologies to create a style which uniquely and seamlessly transitions from the boardroom to the car to the country club.
Preferred by discerning players worldwide, ECCO golf shoes are also worn in competition by Tour stars Couples, Graeme McDowell, Thomas Bjorn, Thongchai Jaidee, Stuart Appleby, Andreas Hartø, JB Hansen, Belén Mozo, Gerina Piller, Caroline Masson and Line Vedel Hansen.
About ECCO
The only major shoe manufacturer to own and manage every step of the shoemaking process – from leather production through its own shoe factories all the way to its stores – ECCO adheres to the design philosophy that “the shoe must follow the foot.” This approach allows the company to craft footwear that combines style and comfort with uncompromising quality and innovative technology. A leading global brand, ECCO was founded in 1963 by Karl Toosbuy and remains family owned. Headquartered in the Danish towns of Bredebro and Tønder, the ECCO footwear group employs nearly 20,000 people worldwide. Its products can be found in 4,000 branded sales locations in more than 90 countries.
ECCO USA is based in Londonderry, New Hampshire. For more information: www.eccousa.com, 800.886.3226.
Contact:
David Griffith
Buffalo Communications
703.395.0404
dgriffith@buffalocommunications.com
www.buffalocommunications.com
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