Japan set to play host to the 36th Shinhan Donghae Open
Seoul, Korea: The 36th edition of the Shinhan Donghae Open, which is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO), will be held in Japan for the first time this year.
The iconic event is also set to enjoy an increased prize purse to KRW1.4 billion with the winner’s cheque worth KRW252 million (about US$218,000) when it is played at Nara Prefecture’s Koma Country Club from September 10-13.
Designed by Gary Player and opened in 1980, the Koma Country Club is a 27-hole membership course and has hosted several JGTO events, including the Japan PGA Championship and the Kansai Open.
More significantly, the construction and development of the Koma Country Club was overseen by Shinhan Financial Group’s founder Lee Heui-keon in the 1980s.
Lee, together with several prominent Korean and Japanese entrepreneurs, had envisioned a promising outlook for Korean golf and the Koma Country Club holds a special place in the Shinhan Financial Group’s history books.
Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Cho Yong-byoung said: “I ask for the understanding of the Korean customers and fans who have supported and visited the Shinhan Donghae Open every year.
“I sincerely wish that this year’s tournament will be a great opportunity for players to spread their wings in the world. Shinhan Financial Group will continue to carry out global brand marketing to become the leading financial group in Asia.”
The Asian Tour said it welcomes the Koma Country Club as the new host venue of the 36th Shinhan Donghae Open.
“Tradition and honour is integral to the game of golf and the decision by Shinhan Financial Group to pay homage to its founder, Mr Lee Heui-keon, is a very noble gesture,” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and CEO, Asian Tour, a Full Business Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.
“We will miss playing the event on Korean soil this year. However, we are confident that the Japanese galleries will be out in force and take this opportunity to watch our Asian Tour players alongside counterparts from the Japanese and Korean Tours in action as well as on television via our global television broadcast.
“Many notable winners have etched their names in the illustrious Shinhan Donghae Open history books and we look forward to another exciting week of high level golf in September,” added Cho.
Contact:
Japan Golf Tour Organization – Website Division
Akasaka Habitation Building 5F, 1-3-5 Akasaka Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052, Japan
Phone: +81-(0)3-3585-7381