Luxehills Golf Championship
May 22, 2009: Mark Hollinger of the JMP Golf Design Group believes the Omega China Tour record total set at last year’s inaugural Luxehills Golf Championship in Chengdu will not be under threat in next month’s second edition.
Last September, Chinese Taipei’s Tsai Chi-huang shot four rounds in the 60s for an 18-under total of 270 at the Luxehills International Country Club, while another 11 players finished under par.
Tsai at Luxehills-Creditworldsportgroup
“I expected thewinning score to be between 10-under and 12-under, so I was surprised when Tsai shot 18-under,” said Hollinger, who designed the 7,335-yard, par-72 layout. “I don’t expect 18-under this year, but if the green speed is quick, I’d expect the top players to shoot between 12-under and 15-under.”
Hollinger also designed theLongxi Hotspring Golf Club in Beijing, which hosted last year’s season-ending Omega Championship, where only champion Zhou Jun finished under-par.
“I thought the scores would be the other way around as Longxi Hotspring is a wider course, but the greens were really quick and the rough was really long, which made it tough,” Hollinger said.
This year’s Luxehills Golf Championship offers an increased purse of RMB1 million and will be held from June 11-14, an ideal time for thePaspalum fairways and rough, while balmy early-summer weather is expected in the Sichuan capital.
“The course will be in perfect condition for thetournament, as Paspalum is a perennial warm-weather grass so will be in top condition in June,” Hollinger said. “Also, compared to last year, the trees are getting bigger and there are more properties around the course, which suits the landscaping.”
Last year big-hitting Yuan Hao set thepace with an opening 66, while top amateur Zhang Xinjun shot a 66 on day two to lead on 11-under. Tsai, a former Asian Tour regular, shot a third-round 66 to tie Zhang for the54-hole lead on 14-under before shooting his third 68 to finish 18-under, three clear of Liao Guiming.
Tsai and Zhang at luxehills_creditworldsportgroup
“It never ceases to amaze me how good these guys are. The course has some teeth, it’s not easy. However, there is room to drive the ball and thegreens are large,” Hollinger said. “Pros hit it so long and straight, they can avoid problems. Even though there are bunkers, lots of them, it’s a course you can attack.”
C.B. Fong, the club’s General Manager, said the large galleries also played their part in inspiring low scores and expected thesame at June’s event, when Zhang Lianwei will be among many top players competing at Luxehills for the first time.
“Luxehills had the biggest crowds on the Omega China Tour and this makes a difference for theplayers,” Fong said. “It gives them added incentive to play well and they’re encouraged when they have the crowd cheering their birdies. The golfers respond to the fans.”
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For further information
Please contact John Higginson, Media Manager, World Sport Group (East Asia). Email: j.higginson@worldsportgroup.com.hk. Tel: +852 2891-2000. Mobile: +852 6626-1443.
About the Luxehills International Country Club
Luxehills International Country Club is Chengdu’s most central golf club and part of the Luxehills International Community, the most prominent real estate project in China’s southwest region. The project was developed by Wide Horizon Real Estate Co. Ltd. The golf club is renowned for its beautiful landscape and spectacular scenery and includes a North American-style clubhouse, an 18-hole championship course by JMP Golf Design Group and international-standard facilities. Firmly established in China’s golfing community, Luxehills was voted Favourite Course of the Year by the players on the 2008 Omega China Tour and hosted the 2008 National Golf Clubs General Managers Conference.
