Makes Birdie on Second Playoff Hole to Claim Victory
(SHENZHEN, China) – Mission Hills Golf Club – the world’s largest collection of premier golf courses with 12 layouts designed by many of the greatest golfers and golf course architects from five continents – announces Sri Lanka’s Mithun Perera won the third annual Asia-Pacific Open Amateur Championship with a birdie on the second playoff hole.
Perera, who shot 70 in the final round on the club’s acclaimed Jack Nicklaus-designed World Cup Course, defeated France’s Alexendre Kaleka and Scotland’s Gordon Yates. The three players were tied at one-over-par 289 after 72 holes. Perera’s victory earned him crucial amateur ranking points from The R&A and gave him an exemption to the 2009 Australian Open.
“The 2009 edition of the Mission Hills Asia-Pacific Open Amateur Championship saw the participation of more countries then ever before, attesting to the crucial place China now holds on the global amateur golf scene,” says Tenniel Chu, Executive Director, Mission Hills Golf Club. “It’s remarkable how the Mission Hills Asia-Pacific Open Amateur Championship has transformed into one of the most prestigious and popular amateur tournaments this side of the world.”
Ninety-six players competed from 18 countries around the world, including China, Australia, Japan, England and France. Co-sponsored by Mission Hills and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), recognized as the official amateur golf body in the Asia-Pacific region by the United States Golf Association and The R&A, the event is the first in China where players’ results count toward The R&A’s amateur rankings. These rankings establish priority for entry into other esteemed amateur golf tournaments, like the British Amateur and U.S. Amateur.
“We congratulate Mithun on his stirring victory,” says Chu. “We also would like to extend our appreciation to all players for supporting this event at Mission Hills and putting on a great performance. This has been an opportunity for you to match your skills with some of the world’s best amateurs, and trust you’ll use your experiences this week to become even better players.”
About Mission Hills Golf Club
Stretching across the lush, rolling hills of Shenzhen and Dongguan in southern China, Mission Hills is China’s highest rated golf club, and the largest golf club in the world according to the Guinness World Records. The property is home to 12 resort and championship courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye, Greg Norman, Nick Faldo, Annika Sorenstam, Ernie Els, Jose Maria Olazabal, Vijay Singh, David Leadbetter, David Duval, Jumbo Ozaki and Zhang Lian Wei.
Mission Hills is a full-service, luxury resort, featuring four clubhouses, three spas, a five-star hotel, three golf academies (including schools from world renowned instructors David Leadbetter and Cindy Reid), 51 tennis courts with a professional tennis academy, and numerous fine dining establishments serving cuisine from around the world. It has hosted more than 50 international tournaments, including the 1995 World Cup of Golf and the Tiger Woods China Challenge in 2001. In 2007, Mission Hills began its role as host of 12 editions of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup.
Mission Hills’ recent awards and accolades include:
• IAGTO Golf Resort of the Year (Rest of World category)
• Best Golf Resort in China – Asian Golf Monthly (2006, 2007, 2008)
• Best Golf Resort Hotel and Best Spa Resort – Business Traveler (2008)
• Pete Dye Course named the “Best New Course in Asia” – Asian Golf Monthly (2007)
• Olazabal Course ranked the No. 1 resort course in Asia – Golfing Magazine (2008)
• World Cup Course named one of the 10 “most significant and influential courses” of last 20 years – LINKS Magazine (2008)
• Dr. David Chu, Chairman of Mission Hills Group, named one of the “Most Powerful People in Golf” – Golf Inc. (2007, 2008)
• Dr. Kenneth Chu, Vice Chairman of Mission Hills Group, named one of golf’s “Most Admired Operators” – Golf Inc. (2008)
• Tenniel Chu, Executive Director of Mission Hills Golf Club, named “Golf Entrepreneur of the Year” – Asian Golf Monthly (2008)
Getting There: Mission Hills Golf Club is a short drive north of Hong Kong International Airport, www.hongkongairport.com. Flights on most major airlines from most major cities are available into Hong Kong. From the airport, Mission Hills transports golfers in luxury shuttles across the border to the resort hotel.
For more information about Mission Hills Golf Club, visit www.missionhillsgroup.com, email info@missionhillsgroup.com, or call (852) 2122 1616 (Hong Kong) -- (86 755) 2802 0888 (Shenzhen) -- (86 769) 8728 8888 (Dongguan).
