Zhang and Liang sign up for Midea China Classic

Zhang Lian-wei and Liang Wen-chong, two of China’s top stars, have confirmed their entries for the inaugural Midea China Classic at Royal Orchid International Golf Club next month.

The Midea China Classic will be the sixth Asian Tour tournament to be staged in China this season where it is offering total prize money of US$400,000. The event will be sanctioned by the Asian Tour and China Golf Association.

Liang’s participation will provide a huge boost for the inaugural event as the Chinese star is enjoying a career year on the Asian Tour with one victory and seven other top-10s to lead the UBS Order of Merit.

“I am happy to head back to China and compete in the Midea China Classic,” said Liang. “I hope to strengthen my position on the UBS Order of Merit and playing in front of the home crowd that week, it is going to be exciting.”

He believes that the exciting expansion of golf in China and Asia was evident with the emergence of new events such as the Midea China Classic, which is one of six new events on the Asian Tour Schedule this year.

“The launch of the Midea China Classic shows that golf in China is growing and I am looking forward to the challenges at the Royal Orchid International Golf Club. I have played there previously and it requires a well rounded game to shoot a solid score.

“I hope to obtain a good result that week and I will playing hard in front of my home fans,” said the 29-year-old star.

Zhang will be shooting for a sixth Asian Tour title at the Midea China Classic on a course which he is helping to redesign. The 42-year-old trailblazer, who has set numerous records in Chinese golf, has shown a welcome return to form with several top-10s this season and he will be looking to sparkle once more.

Midea has come forward in a very big way to title sponsor the Midea China Classic. The Midea Group was established in 1968 and it was later in 1981 that the brand “Midea” was created, with household appliances being its main products.

The company has grown over the years with its headquarters located in Guangdong Province. The company has expanded to Hong Kong, Russia, United States, Japan, Korea, Canada and Germany. Midea also has one of the largest industrial chain of air-conditioners and microwave ovens in the country.

With the backing from sponsor Citic Polytec Property, the Midea China Classic is expected to take the game to greater heights when it is staged on the Southern part of China. Srixon and BCLN are the event partners of the Midea China Classic.

The Midea China Classic will also take centre stage on television with the third and final rounds to be aired live via ESPNStar Sports. There will also be terrestrial coverage in Indonesia and Thailand with a total potential audience of 30 million with the Asian Tour Weekly magazine show broadcasted across Asia through ESPN Star Sports.

The Midea China Classic will be the 19th leg of this season’s Asian Tour, which is offering a record US$27 million in prize money through 27 tournaments.

August 27, 2007

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