Inaugural Asian Amateur Championship Tees Off

The first Asian Amateur Championship has teed off this morning (Thursday) in China, with Huang Wenyi from the host country having the honour of striking the first shot in the landmark tournament.

Playing alongside Shingo Ito of Japan and Malaysia’s Gavin Green, they are part of a field of 116 players from 30 Asia Pacific Golf Confederation member countries competing on the World Cup Course in southern China, approximately 90 minutes north of Hong Kong.

The group has the opportunity to earn an invitation to play in the 2010 Masters Tournament has come firmly into focus for the leading amateur players from the Asia Pacific region. In addition to the trip to the 2010 Masters Tournament, both the winner and the runner(s)-up will earn a place in International Final Qualifying for The Open Championship being played next year at St Andrews.

More than 150 countries will see television coverage of the Asian Amateur Championship, with programming that includes two hours of event exposure during the third and final rounds with Peter Oosterhuis as lead commentator. In addition, 30-minute highlight shows will follow the first, second and final rounds.