Pine Valley Beijing Open doubles prize money to $1m

The second edition of the Pine Valley Beijing Open will see its prize money doubled to $1 million this year, sponsors announced on Wednesday.

Following a successful inaugural edition, the tournament's main sponsor, Reignwood Group, has increased its support and commitment to the event, which will be held at Pine Valley Resort & Country Club from May 8-11.

The tournament will also be sanctioned for the first time by the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO) and China Golf Association.

Reignwood Group remains supportive of the tournament. Chanchai Ruayrungruang, chairman of the group's board of directors, said: "Since its birth, the Reignwood Group has hosted many high-level international competitions and actively pressed forward with the development and growth of the Chinese golf movement.

"The success of the 2007 Pine Valley Beijing Open further solidifies our determination to host traditional golf events on a regular basis."

Kyi Hla Han, executive chairman of the Asian Tour, praised Reignwood Group for its support.

"It is only through the support of great sponsors such as Reignwood Group that we are able to expand rapidly and create playing opportunities for the region's stars," Han said.

The JGTO also intends to help develop golf across borders with its involvement in the 2008 Pine Valley Beijing Open.

JGTO Chairman Kosaku Shimada said: "It is a great pleasure for us to stage the 2008 Pine Valley Beijing Open along with the Asian Tour and China Golf Association. It must be a significant opportunity for our members as well to play in China and compete against the best players in Asia. This tournament is the first JGTO tournament played outside of Japan and we are very proud to do it in China, which is the fastest growing country in golf."

The 2008 Pine Valley Beijing Open will also be a platform for young Chinese stars to rub shoulders with Asia's finest through a series of wild-card qualification tournaments.

As one of the last major international golf events to be held prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the Pine Valley Beijing Open added a special qualification tournament, the "Red Bull Cup", which will give its winners the opportunity to participate and learn directly from their idols with a role in the Pro Am competition.

China Daily

(China Daily 02/29/2008 page23)