Female Hero Taking Part
100 golfers completed the 180 Challenge
Winner of Ladies Division - Ms. Betty Ng
Final Preparation before Teeing Off
Winner of Men's Division Mr. Wu - Awarded Tiger Woods Limited Edition Tag Heuer Watch
Group Photo |
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Connecting the 5 Continents to China and Challenging the World's Number One Golf Club
Results of the Mission Hills Golfathon
On 21 November, a breezy sunny day in late autumn, the World Cup Course was the stage for the highly-anticipated Mission Hills Golfathon Finals. Over six months, players battled through 9 rounds before the top 100 arrived at the Finals to compete for the championship.
New System Attracted Participants
The match capitalized on the reputation of Mission Hills as the largest golf club in the world—as credited by the Guinness World Records--and exemplified the mission of "connecting the five continents to China and challenging the world's number one golf club". Its objective was to invite golfers and sports fans around the world to have a swing at the 180 holes on the 10 signature courses at Mission Hills to promote sports and cultural exchange.
The system of the match was unprecedented. It consisted of 9 screening matches before the Finals. Hundreds of golfers from more than 8 countries or territories converged on the courses in hopes of making the final cut.
Finalists Strove for the Best
Finalists from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, Canada, United States, Japan and Malaysia were divided into the Seniors' Division, Men's Division and Ladies' Division. Throughout the competition, all participants displayed good technique and a high standard of sportsmanship. A well-organized schedule ensured the smooth completion of the games. The steady performance of Taiwan player Mr. Chen—who at 67, was the oldest finalist—won him the title of champion of the Senior Division. Another participant, Malaysian Mr. Zhang, learned about the Golf Marathon during the last stage of the screening matches. To qualify for the challenge, he flew to Missions Hills in October, finished the 9 screening matches within two weeks, then flew from Malaysia to Mission Hills again to join the Finals.
Upon completion of the games, players were invited to Grand Ballroom for lunch, a prize presentation and a chance to share their experiences. As certificates were presented to the participants and the presentation got underway, there was much cheering, applause and laughter. The 6-month Mission Hills Golfathon concluded with a photo session of all the players outside the Grand Ballroom.
TAG Heuer Sponsored the Finals
Leading Swiss watch manufacturer TAG Heuer, with a history of 144 years, was the sponsor of the Finals. Winners of all divisions were awarded TAG Heuer watches from various series. Among them was the limited edition Tiger Woods series 2004. Only 5,500 pieces bearing the signature of Tiger Woods were manufactured.
Mr. Ricky Lo, the acting General Manager of LVMH Watch & Jewelry Hong Kong Limited, commented on the Finals, "Golf has been the sport that is most closely related to every one of us since Tiger Woods was named the spokesperson of TAG Heuer in 2003. There are common points in the notion of golf and watch manufacturing: precision; they are both error-free. TAG Heuer will continue to play an active role in supporting golfing activities in the future."
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