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Big sponsorship boost for Omega China Tour

The Omega China Tour was given a major boost today (Monday) with computer giant Dell and Chengdu's award-winning Luxehills International Country Club joining the ever-growing band of sponsors.

Dell have inked a deal to become the 'Official Computer Systems and Monitors partner' of the Omega China Tour and will also title sponsor the Xiamen Tournament, to be known as the Dell Golf Championship. It will be played at the Orient Golf & Country Club from March 27-30.

Luxehills International Country Club, which has attracted rave reviews since opening for play last year, will sponsor and stage the Chengdu Tournament on the Omega China Tour from June 5-8.

The upmarket club consists of an 18-hole golf course, driving range, tennis courts, swimming pool and gym and attracts celebrities and the wealthy. Both tournaments will offer prize money of just over US$100,000.

There are 10 events on the 2008 schedule up from just four when the China Tour was launched in 2005. The announcement underlines the continual growth of the game on the mainland with the vast potential symbolised by Liang Wenchong, a three-time winner on the Omega China Tour, becoming the first Chinese to be crowned Asia's number one player last year.

Since launching its operations in 1998, Dell has grown its presence and impact in China by building strong relationships with customers, employees, suppliers and Government partners.

A leading member of China's fast-growing IT industry, Dell are continually looking to make economic and social impact as they grow their in-country operations, employee base and commitment to the environment and believe a tie-up with the Omega China Tour reflects those goals.

"Dell's sponsorship of the Omega China Tour underscores our commitment to the China community," said Peter Marrs, Marketing Director, Dell, Greater China.

"Golf is one of the fastest growing sports in China, with the number of golfers almost doubling in two years. This is a tremendous opportunity to showcase our brand to consumers. We are proud to be a partner of the Omega China Tour and title sponsor one of the tournaments.

"There are scores of hungry, young Chinese professionals poised to break through onto the Asian and international stage. We want to help them in their journey of discovery by supporting the Tour."

Marrs said that Dell would add a new dimension to the information flow from the Omega China Tour. "With the excitement of golf comes the requirement for information. People want the latest scores and information immediately. Our IT solutions drive some of the major websites in China," he said.

"As golf grows in China, the requirement for IT solutions will continue to grow as well. Dell's IT solutions will be a key enabler of the successful growth of golf in China."

Luxehills International Country Club in China's western ¡®Gateway' city of Chengdu has quickly won admirers since its opening in 2007 and the course designed by Mark Hollinger of the JMP Golf Design Group promises to pose a stern examination for the country's top players.

Luxehills International Country Club is an important element of Luxehills International Community, which was developed by Chengdu Wide Horizon Real Estate Development Co., Ltd and designed by Doug Dahlin of Dahlin Group Architecture Planning. The project was landscaped by James Nicolay.

"It's a real thrill for Luxehills International Country Club to be part of the Omega China Tour so soon after our opening. We are proud of our championship course and we believe that the players will find it a tough but fair test of golf," said the club's general manger C B Fong.

"China Golf magazine awarded us the title of ¡®Best New Golf Course Design' in 2007 and that underlined the planning, thought and sheer hard work that went into the construction of Luxehills International Country Club.

"We want to project our image throughout the country and a good way of doing that is by sponsoring a tournament on the Omega China Tour, one of the fastest growing domestic circuits in world golf. Golf in China is going places fast and we want to be along for the ride."

China Golf also hailed the club as the "Best Environmental Protection Golf Course" while other accolades have come from Golf Weekly (Chengdu's Top Golf Club City 2007), Platinum (Best Golf Community) and Golf Monthly (My Favourite Golf Course 2007 and Best New Golf Club).

The China Golf Association has welcomed the sponsorship support of Dell and Luxehills International Country Club.

"Sponsorship is the lifeblood of the Omega China Tour and it is pleasing to see a well-recognised and quality brand such as Dell and an award-winning golf course Luxehills International Country Club offering their support," said Zhang Xiaoning, Director General of the Multi-ball Games Administrative Centre of General Administration of Sport.

"In partnership with World Sport Group, the China Golf Association has grown the Omega China Tour from four events in 2005 to 10 this year. In that time we have seen playing standards improve dramatically and young players are now approaching the game with the right mindset.

"Two of our most promising players, Shang Lei and Wu Ashun, qualified for the 2008 Asian Tour and I am sure they represent the trickle before the flood. My thanks again to Dell and Luxehills International Country Club for helping to make the dreams of China's young professionals come true."

The curtain comes up on the fourth season of the Omega China Tour at the Guangzhou Tournament from March 13-16. The event will be played at Dragon Lake Golf Club.

March 3, 2008