Trip of a lifetime for Hong Kong's best juniors

The top Hong Kong golfers from this week's Hong Kong junior Open championship will enjoy a unique, all-expenses-paid experience at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, courtesy of the sponsoring bank.

The HKGA's exclusive banking partner will invite Hong Kong's top boy and girl in the 15-17 age group on a week-long trip to Shanghai where they will enjoy access to top players, learn from industry professionals, watch play from inside the ropes and serve as volunteers.

The trip will conclude with a match between the HKGA juniors and their peers from the China Golf Association played on the Championship course at Sheshan. The match will feature two boys and two girls on each team, with the top Hong Kong golfers from the junior Open being joined by two others selected by the HKGA. The CGA will select its team of four.

The match format will be 18-hole stroke play with the winners decided by the lowest aggregate of the best three scores for each team.

"We've been working closely with our partners at the HKGA to see how we can bring genuine value to the talented young golfers of Hong Kong," said Giles Morgan, global head of sponsorship and events for HSBC

"The idea behind this is not only to reward Hong Kong's top juniors with an unforgettable experience, but to help them learn about a possible career in the golf industry.

"HSBC is heavily invested in golf at all levels and we're able to leverage our involvement in the sport to provide this unique experience for these young boys and girls. They will learn from a number of the industry's most experienced personnel about both playing at a professional level and working in the sport - something that will help them when considering their future career path.

"The match will provide a fitting conclusion to the trip and our hope is that this becomes an annual match pitting the top juniors from Hong Kong and China together, showcasing the incredible young golfing talent that exists in Greater China."

Mark Chan, president of the HKGA, said: "The support of HSBC, along with our other partners, is fundamental to the HKGA's objective of growing golf at all levels. At one end we are bringing new children into the game through HSBC Golf For Schools, but at the same time we are supporting elite juniors though our HSBC junior development program.

"Experiences such as attending the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions will help them fulfill their potential and inspire them to represent Hong Kong at the highest level."

This year's Hong Kong junior Open will take place at the Discovery Bay Golf Club from Aug 12-14, and for the first time in its 45-year history, the tournament will be played over three rounds.