The Fubon Senior Open returns to the European Senior Tour schedule this year with an increased prize fund of US$450,000.
The tournament, which will again be played at Miramar Golf and Country Club in Taiwan, from November 9-11, proved a huge success last year with home favourite Chien Soon Lu sealing his maiden win in front of the home crowds.
It was an historic occasion last year as it was the first time the Senior Tour had visited the shores of Taiwan, and the tournament continues to go from strength to strength.
The Fubon Senior Open is the penultimate tournament on the 2012 Senior Tour Schedule, and the increased prize fund – from US$400,000 to US$450,000 - could have a major influence on the Order of Merit before the season-ending MCB Tour Championship in Mauritius.
The 96-strong field will again comprise 54 Senior Tour Members and 42 players from the Senior PGA of Taiwan, which is co-sanctioning the event, and there will again be a cut of the top 60 and ties after the second of the three rounds.
Daniel Tsai, Chairman of Fubon Financial, said: “Fubon Group has spared no effort in supporting golf in Taiwan. The group has been sponsoring the Fubon Senior Open for ten years in a row and the event has always attracted elite players from home and abroad to compete against each other. Last year, for the first time, the Fubon Senior Open was included in the European Senior Tour, and incredibly Lu Chien-Soon managed to keep the trophy in Taiwan with a superb performance.”
“In order to encourage more players to attend the event, Fubon Financial Holdings has raised the total prize money from US$400,000 to $450,000, which immediately makes Fubon Senior Open the senior tournament with the highest prize money in Taiwan golf history.
“I also want to extend my gratitude to Hsieh Min Nan, President of the Senior PGA of Taiwan, for facilitating the process of making Fubon Senior Open a stop on the European Senior Tour, giving Taiwanese fans an opportunity to appreciate the game of golf at such an elite level through this world class event.”
Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the Senior Tour, said: “We broke new ground last year with the inaugural Fubon Senior Open and we are delighted that we can return for what should be another great tournament.
“To watch Chien Soon Lu winning in front of his home crowd was really a great moment which sums up what the Senior Tour is all about, and our commitment to developing the game in the Far East region continues to grow with this increased prize fund.”
Hsieh Min Nan, said: "After the success of The 2011 Fubon Senior Open last year, it is our great pleasure and honour to work with European Senior Tour and Fubon Financial in organising The 2012 Fubon Senior Open once again.
“As the representative of the Senior PGA of Taiwan, I am grateful for the generosity of Fubon Financial with their consecutive sponsorship, and would like to thank Mr Tsai of Fubon Financial for his continuous support for the event.
“Also I would like to express my gratitude to the Senior Tour for providing us this opportunity to become one of the stops on European Senior Tour schedule. The participation of these top senior golfers will greatly promote the game of golf in Taiwan, and allow Taiwan to become an international stage for sporting events.”
