The vibrant city of Chongqing will welcome its first international professional golf tournament later this year with the announcement of the inaugural Shankai Classic to be played from October 16-19.
Sanctioned by the European Challenge Tour and the China Golf Association, the US$350,000 tournament will be held at the renowned Chongqing Poly Golf Club and will draw a field of international and Chinese stars, each vying for the US$56,000 winner's cheque.
"We're delighted to be visiting Chongqing for the very first time," said Ben Cowen, Deputy Director of International Policy for the European Tour. "The Shankai Classic will be played at an important time on the European Challenge Tour calendar – just three weeks before the Grand Final in Dubai – so it's an event that no player will want to miss. The venue is spectacular and we're expecting a strong turnout."
Occupying a stunning location close to the heart of the 'Mountain City', Chongqing Poly Golf Club is home to two championship courses – the North and the South. In a first for Chinese golf, the tournament will be played over a composite layout, using nine holes from the North Course and nine from the South.
"We're excited about the upcoming arrival of the European Challenge Tour, as are all golf fans in Chongqing," said Li Guoshan, General Manager of the Chongqing Poly Golf Club. "As a club we're proud to host the first international championship to be played in the city and can't wait to get started."
Wang Liwei, Deputy Director of Multi-Ball Games Administrative Center of General Administration of Sport of China and Vice President of the China Golf Association said: "The inaugural Shankai Classic promises to be a fantastic opportunity for Chinese players to showcase their talents to the wider world. The tournament will undoubtedly help grow the game in this most dynamic of cities."
This event will be the first of two to be played in China, with the Foshan Open returning to the schedule the following week, from October 23-26.
