Danang, Vietnam: Vinpearl Resort & Golf Nam Hoi An has been confirmed as the venue for next month’s Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) Senior Amateur Championships.
To take place from November 21-23, the event is expected to attract many of the region’s foremost male and female senior golfers.
Taimur Hassan Amin, Chairman of the APGC, said: “This event has become very popular among our member countries with the seniors enjoying the competitive environment and the friendly atmosphere in which it is played.
“I thank Vinpearl Resort & Golf Nam Hoi An and the Vietnam Golf Association for stepping forward to host these popular championships. I’m sure it will be a tremendous week and we look forward to welcoming our senior players from all over the region.”
The APGC Senior Amateur Championships is the Asia-Pacific’s premier team and individual championship for senior male and female golfers.
At Kuala Lumpur’s Kota Permai Golf & Country Club last year, Japan’s Hiroko Oga created a notable slice of golfing history by becoming the first winner of the APGC Senior Women’s Amateur Championship.
The 52-year-old emerged triumphant after an engrossing three-day duel with Sue Wooster, who finished second individually but led Australia to victory in the women’s team event, ably supported by Nadene Gole and Jacqueline Morgan.
Australia’s men’s team also proved too strong for their rivals at Kota Permai with the quartet of Greg Rhodes, Ken Brewer, Ian Frost and Mark Allen sweeping to a seven-stroke victory from Korea with Hong Kong pipping Singapore to third place.
For good measure, 63-year-old Rhodes claimed the men’s individual title, a rock-solid closing one-over-par 73 giving him a winning 54-hole aggregate of 224 – three strokes ahead of runner-up Jimmy Aw from Singapore.
Amin said: “The standard and stature of this event over the years has developed to the highest level where the individual senior men’s champion is now invited to participate in the following year’s R&A Senior championship.”
Among males, eligible players for this year are those who have reached their 55th birthday by November 1 in the year of the tournament and whose handicap does not exceed the handicap limit for their age category at the time of entry, or who are an exempt player.
For males there will be four categories: Group A (55-59 years) – 13.4 (handicap index limit); Group B (60-64 years) – 15.4; Group C (65-69 years) – 17.9; Group D (70 years and above) – no limit.
For females, eligible players are those who have reached their 50th birthday by November 1 in the year of the tournament and whose handicap does not exceed the handicap limit for their age category at the time of entry, or who are an exempt player.
Females will compete in three categories: Group A (50-54 years) – 15.4; Group B (55-59 years) – 17.4; Group C (60 years and above) – no limit.
This will be only the second occasion that the APGC Senior Championships have been held in Vietnam, the first being at Danang’s Montgomerie Links in 2013 when New Zealand claimed team honours ahead of Australia.
A golf and beach resort in Vietnam’s Central coastal region, Vinpearl Resort & Golf Nam Hoi An is a links-style layout that reflects the natural terrain characterised by white sand dunes.
Located some 40 kilometres from Danang International Airport, features of the course are wide fairways, large bunkers and gently undulating greens.