Rafa Cabrera Bello, Thongchai Jaidee, Patrick Reed, Justin Rose, Danny Willett and Kiradech Aphibarnrat pose for cameras ahead of the HK18 charity fund-raiser.
Hong Kong: Six of the star players from the 2016 UBS Hong Kong Open took time out to participate in a charity fund-raising putting contest at the Central Harbourfront.
The public event saw Hong Kong Open defending champion and Olympic gold medallist
Justin Rose supported by second round leader
Rafa Cabrera Bello of Spain and
Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand, go up against American
Patrick Reed,
Danny Willett of England and Thai
Thongchai Jaidee in an 18-metre putting contest.
The competition saw the two teams putt simultaneously from two ends of a purpose-built putting strip, in an effort to putt as many balls as possible in a five-minute time-trial.
For each successful putt, a sum of HK$10,000 was donated to the tournament’s official charities by the Friends of Asia and the Hong Kong Golf Club, a Golf Course Facility Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.
A total of HK$180,000 was raised, with Bello receiving the accolade as Most Valuable Player for his four successful putts.
The money raised will be shared among the tournament’s four nominated charities – the Autism Partnership Foundation; InspiringHK Sports Foundation (IHKSF); Playright Children’s Play Association; and The Hub Hong Kong.
The initiative brought to a close the tournament’s new HK18 community initiative which has taken the excitement of the UBS Hong Kong Open on an 18-day roadshow, visiting each of Hong Kong’s 18 districts.
The interactive golf experience has seen some 1,350 members of the public test their skills on a purpose-built course, with over 20,000 spectators enjoying the fun.
