Singapore, 10 December 2009 - HSBC Women's Champions 2010 Local Qualifying Tournament details were announced today with the two-day event set to take place on 20-21 January 2010. This follows the confirmation that the HSBC Women's Champions will once again be hosted at the prestigious Tanah Merah Country Club on the Garden Course.
The host country's top female amateur golfers with a handicap of two or below will play for the chance to compete alongside the world's top female golfers from 25-28 February 2010. Following the 2009 format, the qualifying competition will run over two days with the best player over 36 holes taking the final coveted spot in the line up of the third edition of 'Asia's Major'.
"We have watched with excitement and pleasure as both Amelia Yong in 2008 and Joey Poh in 2009 took their place amongst the professional line up for the HSBC Women's Champions and we look forward to supporting next year's host country invite at Tanah Merah Country Club," said Guy Harvey-Samuel, CEO HSBC Singapore.
"HSBC are extremely active in grassroots golf initiatives around the world and Singapore is no exception with our HSBC Youth Golfers Programme (YGP) going from strength to strength and the highly competitive HSBC Youth Golf Challenge, just completed a few weeks ago. By giving a local female amateur the opportunity to be part of this international event, we play our part in helping the next generation of stars aspire to greater heights."
Joey Poh is a member of the HSBC Youth Golfers Excellence Programme (YGEP) which grooms youths from the HSBC YGP who show great aptitude and potential. Joey Poh won the 2009 local qualifier and had an eye-opening week at Tanah Merah as she recalls, "The HSBC Women's Champions was an amazing experience for me. Winning the qualifying tournament was a big achievement and to then play with and meet some of my golfing idols during the event week was really special. Watching how the professionals play and train was a valuable experience for me and I think that I have continued to develop my game since then and would love another opportunity to play with them and see what I can do this time around."
Fourteen girls challenged for the Host Country Invite last year and a similar numbers of entrants are expected this time. With a global TV audience and champions from golf around the world descending on Singapore, the qualifying tournament holds the key to a once in a lifetime experience for local players.
Both the qualifying Tournament and the HSBC Women's Champions will return to Tanah Merah Country Club that has hosted the event since its inaugural year in 2008.
"Tanah Merah Country Club is honoured to be hosting the HSBC Women's Champions once again," said Tan Puay Huat, President, Tanah Merah Country Club. "The Garden Course has seen the world's top female golfers grace its greens and we are confident that we will be ready to welcome them back in February when the players will compete for the champion of champions trophy."
"We are delighted that the HSBC Women's Champions is returning to Tanah Merah Country Club for the third year and are looking forward to another world-class competition on the championship Garden Course," added Guy Harvey-Samuel, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Singapore. "We know golf fans will be eagerly awaiting the start of this exciting event as the world's best female golfers tee off in February."
World Number One Lorena Ochoa lifted the inaugural Champion of Champions trophy in Singapore with an outstanding final score of 20under - 11 shots ahead of her closest challenger. Jiyai Shin had a phenomenal rookie season with her victory at the HSBC Women's Champions 2009, kick-starting a winning season which she ended at the top of the Official Money List. She came from six strokes behind going into the final day and shot her second consecutive round of 66 to win by two strokes.
The closing date for entry into the HSBC Women's Champions Qualifying Tournament is 06 January 2010. Singaporean players who wish to submit their entries with the necessary documentation can collect application forms from TMCC. Alternatively, forms can be downloaded from www.hsbcgolf.com.
The HSBC Women's Champions 2010 is sanctioned by the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and will be the third edition of 'Asia's Major' where 63 of the world's top female golfers will battle it out over 72 holes of individual stroke play.