Hana Bank to sponsor new Vietnam Masters

Hana Bank will title sponsor a brand new Asian Tour event in Hanoi this November in support of exciting initiatives to expand the growth of golf in Vietnam and across the region.

The inaugural Hana Bank Vietnam Masters will be played at the Phoenix Golf Resort from November 22-25 where Asia’s best players will shoot for a total prize fund of US$500,000. Hana Bank has signed a three-year agreement with the Asian Tour to back the new event.

The Phoenix Golf Resort

With the latest addition, the Asian Tour will now hit a record 28 tournaments on its 2007 Schedule and offer an all-time high of over US$27 million in total prize money.

Hana Bank, one of the largest banks in Korea, is a strong supporter of professional golf where it is a major sponsor of the Kolon Hana Bank Korea Open, which forms part of the Asian Tour.

It also title sponsors the Hana Bank Kolon Women’s Championship in Korea, which is sanctioned by the LPGA Tour.

Mr Kim Jong-jun, Deputy President and Group Head, Hana Bank said: “We are honoured and delighted to contribute towards the development of golf in Vietnam through our title sponsorship of the Hana Bank Vietnam Masters.

“Professional golf in this emerging country is growing and we are committed to assist in the development of the game here. This wonderful initiative will place Vietnam firmly on the international golf map and we plan to establish this event into a sporting extravaganza that Vietnam can be proud of.

“We are also pleased to strengthen our partnership with the Asian Tour, which has established itself as one of the major international Tours in the world. Our association with the Asian Tour will allow Hana Bank to meet with our strategic and business objectives in raising our corporate profile in Vietnam and across Asia.”

Asian Tour Senior Vice President Gerry Norquist welcomed the launch of the Hana Bank Vietnam Masters, which will become the seventh tournament to make its debut on the Asian Tour this year.

He also believes the new tournament will shape the race for the prestigious UBS Order of Merit crown as it will be the third from last ranking event of the season.

“On behalf of our talented players, I would like to extend our fullest appreciation to Hana Bank for its vision and support towards professional golf in Asia. We are excited with this new initiative and believe it can capitalise on the vast potential that golf in Vietnam has to offer,” said Norquist.

“We are also proud that the inclusion of the Hana Bank Vietnam Masters will boost the Asian Tour Schedule to 28 tournaments which will be a new record in Asian golf history. This reinforces the belief that the future of the professional game lies in Asia.

“Our players have often voiced their interests to return to Vietnam to play in tournaments after we last staged a tournament in Hanoi two years ago. We feel welcomed in Vietnam and believe we can contribute further towards the growth of the game here.”

The Phoenix Golf Resort is the biggest golfing facility in the Northern Province of Vietnam where its 27-hole course caters to the growing number of leisure golfers in Hanoi.

The Resort’s Chairman Mr. Lee Dae-bong said: “We are looking forward to welcoming the finest players from the Asian Tour to the inaugural Hana Bank Vietnam Masters. It is an honour for our resort to be associated with Vietnam’s biggest professional golf tournament and we will ensure its success by delivering a truly championship course for the players.”

September 27, 2007

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