Local Qualifying Tournament to be held at Tanah Merah Country Club's Garden Course
Singapore, 25 January 2011 - The HSBC Women's Champions 2011 Local Qualifying Tournament, set to take place from 26 to 27 January, will feature 13 talented Singaporean golfers battle it out for the Host Country Invite and a place in the prestigious HSBC Women's Champions 2011.
The serene Garden Course at Tanah Merah Country Club (TMCC) will play host to the tournament, which is open to female amateur and professional golfers with a handicap of two or below.
Following the 2010 format, the two-day qualifying competition will see the best player over 36 holes claim a spot in the line-up of the fourth edition of 'Asia's Major'.
Among the field competing in the Local Qualifying Tournament is Joey Poh, who won the 2009 and 2010 Host Country Invites and played in the past two editions of the HSBC Women's Champions. Joey, a member of the HSBC Youth Golfers Excellence Programme (YGEP), is hoping to qualify for the third time in a row this year.
Said Poh, "The HSBC Women's Champions has provided me with a great deal of experience and exposure in the past two years. Watching and learning about how professionals play and train has helped me to develop my game. I am grateful for the opportunities and support given to me by HSBC and I will do my best to win the Host Country Invite again this year!"
Eleven girls challenged for the Host Country Invite last year. Golf professional Ji Jiali, who finished in second place then, will be hoping to put in a stronger showing this year.
"In last year's qualifying tournament, I could not finish my rounds strongly and missed out narrowly. Since that experience, I've learned to be more focused and I think that will hold me in better stead this time around", said Ji.
Alex Hungate, CEO of HSBC Singapore said: "As a bank, HSBC prides itself on opening up a world of opportunities for people and this is an opportunity for talented local golfers to demonstrate their potential on the world stage. The best female golfers in the world will come to Singapore for the HSBC Women's Champions event and the winner of our local qualifying tournament will get the chance to establish herself as a new global talent. The HSBC Women's Champions 2011 should be a world class event for players and spectators."
The challenging Garden Course at TMCC has played host to both the HSBC Women's Champions Local Qualifying Tournament and the HSBC Women's Champions since 2008.
"Tanah Merah Country Club is honoured to be hosting the HSBC Women's Champions once again. Preparations for the tournament are in full swing and we are looking forward to welcoming the world's top female golfers back to grace our greens", said Tan Puay Huat, President, Tanah Merah Country Club.
The HSBC Women's Champions 2011, due to take place from 24 to 27 February, will see 63 of the world's top female golfers battle it out over 72 holes of individual stroke play. The tournament is sanctioned by the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and will offer a purse of US$1.4 million.
Lorena Ochoa, who has since retired from the sport, lifted the inaugural 'Champion of Champions' trophy in Singapore in 2008 with an outstanding final score of 20-under – 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.
Ai Miyazato, who won the HSBC Women's Champions 2010 after defeating Cristie Kerr by two strokes, became the first player in 44 years to open a LPGA Tour season with two consecutive wins after also claiming the Honda PTT LPGA Thailand 2010.
For more information on the HSBC Women's Champions 2011, please visit the tournament website at http://www.hsbcgolf.com.
Topics: Press Release
