Shanghai, October 11: The Volvo China Open will mark its 10th anniversary with a celebration of champions at Shanghai Silport Golf Club from November 25-28, 2004.

Volvo have extended special invitations to all former title-holders to return to this year’s US$1 million championship which they believe will add to the festivities of its flagship event in China.

The list of champions include Raul Fretes of Paraguay, winner of the inaugural Volvo China Open in 1995, Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng (1996), China’s Cheng Jun (1997), Englishman Edward Fryatt (1998), Kyi Hla Han of Myanmar (1999), England’s Simon Dyson (2000), Korea’s Charlie Wi (2001) and Australian David Gleeson (2002).
Chinese golfing idol Zhang Lian-wei won last year’s title to achieve his lifelong dream of winning his home Open.

‘We are delighted to invite all the former champions of the Volvo China Open back to this year’s championship and many of them have already confirmed their participation,’ said Mel Pyatt, President and Chief Executive Officer, Volvo Event Management.
‘Celebrating our 10th anniversary is a tremendous milestone for Volvo and it is appropriate for us to welcome back all the former champions.

‘Volvo were the first corporate sponsors of golf in China in the early 1990s and it is fantastic to be a part of the great success of its national Open. I believe this championship has been the main driving force behind the development of the game in this country and has enabled us to unearth fine talents such as Zhang Lian-wei and Liang Wen-chong.
‘Our association with golf in China is a strong one and Volvo are truly committed to support its national Open for the long haul.’

This year’s Volvo China Open will be jointly sanctioned for the first time by the Asian and European Tours, a move that will provide an international-class field and also extensive global television coverage to promote the championship.

Prize money was also doubled from last year’s US$500,000 as Volvo continue to sustain its support for golf in the world’s most populous nation. This year’s winner at Shanghai Silport will pocket US$180,000.

Hu Juan-guo, Director of the Multi-Ball Games Administrative Center of the State Sport, said that Volvo’s contribution towards the Volvo China Open has been second to none. He added that players such as Zhang and Liang have benefited immensely by competing in the Volvo China Open.

‘Through Volvo’s extended sponsorship of China’s national Open, the popularity of golf has increased by many folds over the years. When the first Volvo China Open was staged in 1995, there were only six golf courses in China. Now, there are approximately 200 courses and the number is growing. There is a strong link between this development and the Volvo China Open. I would like to thank Volvo for its support,’ said Hu.

This will be the sixth straight year that Shanghai Silport will play host to the Volvo China Open. A total of 102 players will tee up in the championship, with the field being made up of 43 players each from the Asian and European Tours, 12 players from the China Golf Association and four sponsor’s invites.

Fretes lifted the first Volvo China Open crown with an 11-under-par 277 winning total while the lowest winning score is jointly held by Prayad and Fryatt at 19-under-par 269. Last year, Zhang won the title by two strokes with his four-day aggregate of 11-under-par 277.

Fretes said: ‘I’m feeling very excited about returning to China to play in the in this great championship. It will be very emotional for me to be a part of this celebration. When I first played the Volvo China Open, I never imagined that golf in China would be as popular as it is today. It is fantastic that it is celebrating its 10th anniversary.’

After winning last year’s title which was his fifth in Asia, Zhang said it was a dream come true to triumph on home soil. ‘Volvo has been a big help in my career and this title means the most to me. I’ve been trying to win this for the past nine years and I’m very, very happy now. It’s not easy to achieve victory in China as there is so much pressure. I’m very relieved,’ said Zhang after last year’s victory.

Contact:

Chuah Choo Chiang
Asian Tour
Communications Manager
T: +603 7880 3714
E: chuah@asiantour.com