Pine Valley Beijing Open prize fund doubled to US$1m

The second edition of the Pine Valley Beijing Open will see its prize money doubled to US$1 million this year, sponsors announced today.

Following a successful inaugural edition, the tournament’s main sponsors Reignwood Group has increased its support and commitment towards the event, which will be staged at Pine Valley Resort & Country Club from May 8-11.

The tournament will also be sanctioned for the first time by the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour Organisation and China Golf Association, which sponsors believe will showcase Asia’s best players in the Chinese capital.

Reignwood Group remains as a pillar of support for the Pine Valley Beijing Open. Dr. Chanchai Ruayrungruang, Chairman of Board of Directors for Reignwood Group, remarked: “Since its birth, the Reignwood Group has hosted many high-level international competitions and actively pressed forward with the development and growth of the Chinese golf movement.

“The success of the 2007 Pine Valley Beijing Open further solidifies our determination to host traditional golf events on a regular basis. This year we have increased the total prize purse and will cooperate with the Japan Golf Tour Organization for the first time, an act which coincides with the year which is to highlight mutual friendship and exchange between Chinese and Japanese youth. We are firmly convinced that we will be able to make this event a top-ranked contest in Asia and in the world beyond.”

Kyi Hla Han, Executive Chairman of the Asian Tour, paid tribute to Reignwood Group. “It is only through the support of great sponsors such as Reignwood Group that we are able to expand rapidly and create playing opportunities for the region’s stars,” said Han.

“We welcome the wonderful initiative from Reignwood in doubling the total prize fund of the Pine Valley Beijing Open to US$1 million and this event will certainly become the pride of golf in Beijing and a prime fixture on the Asian Tour Schedule.

“The Asian Tour is also delighted to work closely with the China Golf Association and Japan Golf Tour Organisation for the Pine Valley Beijing Open. Through our close collaboration, the best of Asian golf will be on parade in May.”

The JGTO has also signaled its intentions to help develop golf across the borders with their involvement in the 2008 Pine Valley Beijing Open.

JGTO Chairman Kosaku Shimada said: “It is a great pleasure for us to stage the 2008 Pine Valley Beijing Open along with the Asian Tour and China Golf Association. It must be a significant opportunity for our members as well to play in China and compete against the best players in Asia. This tournament is the first JGTO tournament played outside of Japan and we are very proud to do it in China, which is the fastest growing country in golf.

“On behalf of JGTO and our members, I would like to thank Dr. Chanchai of Pine Valley Resort & Country Club for sponsoring this historical tournament, our partners Asian Tour and China Golf Association.

“We would also like to particularly thank Sports Nippon Newspapers and Kotobuki Golf who are supporting us and making significant efforts to make this happen with us in Japan.”

The 2008 Pine Valley Beijing Open will also serve as platform for the aspiring young Chinese stars to rub shoulders with Asia’s finest through a series of “wild card” qualification tournaments.

As one of the last major international golf events to be held prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the Pine Valley Beijing Open added a special qualification tournament, the “Red Bull Cup”, which will give its winners the exceptional opportunity to participate and learn directly from their idols by garnering them a role in the Pro Am competition. The “Red Bull Cup” Qualification Tournament is set to tee-off in Chongqing on February 29.

February 27, 2008

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