Monday, July 28, 2014

U.S.-Sino Cup competition debuts in China as World Amateur dates near

(Myrtle Beach, SC) – Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday is continuing to grow its relationship with the emerging Chinese golf market with the staging of the first U.S.-Sino Cup at the Nanshan International Golf Club in Yantai, China.

A team of 12 low-handicap American golfers visited northeast China, June 30-July 5, to face a Chinese team in the inaugural head-to-head matches, playing a 36-hole, gross aggregate scoring competition. The Chinese team won by 28 strokes during the four-day event that included two practice rounds and a 36-hole tournament on the Montgomerie and Pine Canyon courses at Nanshan International.

Competitors were determined by participation in the Myrtle Beach World Amateur Handicap Championship and the World Amateur China qualifiers.

"It was another one of the building blocks in our growing relationship with China and to keep Myrtle Beach at the forefront of their minds as they grow rapidly in golf," said Jeff Monday, the tournament director for the World Amateur Handicap Championship, and an attendee at the event. "It was one of the greatest experiences I’ve had, with great hospitality – from the people, the golf courses, competition, accommodations and food. We look forward to making this an even bigger event every year."

The 2015 U.S.-Sino Cup is scheduled to be held in conjunction with the World Amateur Handicap Championship in Myrtle Beach.

Most of the American team – 10 of the 12 players – will be determined from the gross division that debuts at this year’s World Amateur, which is scheduled for August 25-29. The other two team members will be ‘Captain's Picks', as chosen by Monday, the U.S. Captain.

Deadline for entry in this year’s World Amateur is August 7. The 31st World Amateur is the world’s largest golf tournament with approximately 3,500 participants from 26 countries competing on more than 60 courses along the 'Grand Strand'.

This year marks the third time China has sent qualifiers to the World Amateur, the result of approximately 1,000 entries into 12 nationwide qualifying tournaments and a final qualifier, the World Amateur Handicap Championship China.

China’s U.S.-Sino Cup team was finalised by the qualifiers, and nine players from the World Amateur China will make the trip to Myrtle Beach for the competition.

The connection with China began in partnership with sports marketing firm Olle Sports of Guangzhou, China. Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday President, Bill Golden, and Myrtle Beach Mayor, John Rhodes, attended the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) Convention in China last March to interact with Chinese and Asian tourism officials and have visited China on other occasions.

Also, three Chinese citizens have purchased five Myrtle Beach courses within the past year – one of those soon after participating in the World Amateur. Myrtle Beach resident and ambassador, Dustin Johnson, drew even more attention to the area last November when he won the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, China.

To learn more about Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, go to: www.myrtlebeachgolfholiday.com.

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