Since 2005, and in line with the spirit and approach of the leading ‘open’ championships of the world, the Volvo China Open has offered a limited number of places to those who have not already qualified. In 2016, four qualifying events will again be staged in different regions of the great host nation, inspiring a huge number of golfers, professional and amateur alike, to pursue their golfing dreams.
The first tournament will be in the south in January and will see a return to the lovely Guangzhou Nansha Golf Club. In February, Huiyang Palm Island will again host the international event that is held for golfers who do not hold a mainland Chinese passport. The following month will see another return to one of last year’s popular host clubs, the Shanghai Tianma Club, before the final chance to win a place just over two weeks before the main event at Tianjin Binhai Forest in the north.
Over the last eleven years, more than 40 successful qualifying tournaments for the Volvo China Open have been held. Through these, over 140 places have been won enabling the qualifiers to compete in the championship alongside the stars of The European Tour. Some of these golfers have entered the record books and become famous throughout the golfing world. Guan Tian-lang and Ye Wo-cheng both won the right to take part in the Volvo China Open this way, and in doing so they set records as the youngest players ever to compete on The European Tour.
Dou Ze-cheng qualified this way in 2013 before setting records both as the youngest player to make the cut and the first amateur golfer to win the Rong Gao-tang Award which goes to the best-placed Chinese finisher. It really can be the start of something big, as last year’s winner Wu Ashun, was himself a qualifier back in 2008.
Full Schedule
The duration of each qualifying event is three days; one practice round followed by two rounds of competition play. Each is open to a maximum of 125 golfers, professional and amateur, with the leading three finishers at each event qualifying for a place in the 22ndVolvo China Open.
Jan 25-27 Guangzhou Nansha Qualifying
Feb 24-26 Huiyang Palm Island Qualifying
Mar 14-16 Shanghai Tianma Qualifying
Apr 11-13 Tianjin Binhai Forest Qualifying
The 21st Volvo China Open produced a result that delighted the host nation as Wu Ashun held off a strong international challenge to take the trophy. The 22nd staging of the Volvo China Open will take place from April 28 to May 1. Volvo was the first western brand to engage with golf in China in 1995, and this will be Volvo’s 85th tournament on The European Tour. The tournament is organised by the China Golf Association with Volvo as co-organiser and promoter, and is co-sanctioned by The European Tour and OneAsia.
For more information, please visit www.volvochinaopen.com
