Hong Kong Open confirmed for another year

Hong Kong, Oct 19 (IANS)

The European Tour and co-sanctioning partners the Asian Tour Sunday confirmed that the Hong Kong Open Golf tournament will be staged 22^nd – 25^th October in 2015.

Thanks to the invaluable support of the Hong Kong Golf Club, the tournament will continue to be the territory's longest-running professional sporting event, having been established in 1959 and staged at the iconic Fanling venue since its inception 56 years ago, according to an Asian Tour media release.

Sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours, along with the Hong Kong Golf Association, since 2001 the tournament remains one of the most popular on the schedules of both tours, with players enjoying the unique challenge of the Hong Kong Golf Club, which this year is celebrating its 125th anniversary.

The Oct 22-25, 2015, dates will see the Hong Kong Open become the last event on the European Tour International schedule before its lucrative Final Series gets underway, and will represent the last opportunity for the Tour's membership to qualify for the Race to Dubai's Final Series.

As in previous editions, the Hong Kong Open will also be an important fixture on the Asian Tour schedule where the money will be counted on the Order of Merit at a crucial stage of the season.

Asian Tour chairman Kyi Hla Han said:"On behalf of the Asian Tour, we are delighted to welcome the return of the prestigious Hong Kong Open in 2015. The Hong Kong Open is steeped in history and it is one of the most popular events on our schedule.

"We look forward to working closely again with the European Tour and the Hong Kong Golf Association to ensure another successful showpiece."