Other Sports

Guangzhou to host China Classic

(AP)
Updated: 2007-05-14 19:27

SHANGHAI - The southern city of Guangzhou will host the inaugural gold China Classic in September, the sixth Asian Tour event in China this year, the tour announced Monday.

The US$400,000 tournament will tee off at the Nick Faldo-designed Royal Orchid International Golf Club in the city just west of Hong Kong, the Asian Tour said.

The tournament "is a wonderful reflection of the continued growth of the sport in our country and we are proud to be a part of this wonderful event," Wang Liwei, an official with the government's General Administration of Sport, was quoted as saying by the tour.

Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han said the extra tournament underscored golf's rise in China he hoped the tournament would help stimulate the development of more top golfers in China.

"However, I believe that we must also continue to put in all our resources to develop the players in China, Han said.

"Through the exposure of top-level competition on the Asian Tour, this is one of the best ways for players to mature into quality golfers," he added.