(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-03-06 10:52

Prize money for the upcoming Volvo China Open in April will be boosted to $2.2 million, an increase of $200,000, organizers say. Total prize money has increased fivefold since the tournament debuted 14 years ago.

China Open qualifying competitions will also receive a substantial boost with prize money increasing by nearly 750,000 yuan ($105,500). Volvo has stipulated that 90 percent of that money will go to the pockets of home-based players.

"We want to do our bit to help motivate home players," said Klas Magnusson, acting head of Volvo Event Management. "If they don't qualify for the Open but they still win some prize money, it motivates them to set higher goals and work at their game."

Nine spots for the China Open finals are up for grabs for local players through three qualifying competitions. The top 20 finishers in each qualifier will also receive prize money.

Joining the lucky nine home players in the Open will be current China Junior Champion, Ye Jiangfeng, as well as 14 others selected by the China Golf Association.

Together with veteran star Liang Wenchong, who is eligible to compete thanks to his high Asian Tour ranking, at least 25 home players will show up in what is called the national Open Championship this year.

They will face the cream of Europe and Asia with reigning champion, Markus Brier of Austria, hoping to return to defend his title.

Chinese golfers showed big improvements last year and they are determined to do well at this year's tournament.

Last year, 26-year-old Huang Mingjie from Sichuan province stormed into the first-round lead with a superb 68.

He and six other Chinese players made it through the half-way cut, making it the biggest-ever number of local players into the final round.

"We're hoping that there will be even more making it to the final day this year," added Magnusson. "If they do, it will show that more and more Chinese pros are capable of making an impact on the international stage."