Golfer Pacific NZ - News Brief’s-Hong Kong Open, Amelia Garvey, Vale Renton Laidlaw.
Hong Kong Open postponed to next year
The Hong Kong Open, which was scheduled to take place at Hong Kong Golf Club at the end of November, has been postponed until next year.
A joint statement issued by the Hong Kong Golf Club and the Hong Kong Golf Association said: “In view of the global pandemic and the travel restrictions associated with it, the organisers of the 62nd Hong Kong Open have made the decision to postpone the tournament until the new year and are reviewing suitable options for staging the event in early 2022.
“Hong Kong Golf Club and the Hong Kong Golf Association remain fully committed to the return of Hong Kong’s longest running professional sporting event as soon as conditions allow.
``Once again, we thank the Hong Kong golf community for its continued understanding and support. A further announcement will be made in due course.”
Clarence Leung, captain of Hong Kong Golf Club, added: “As one of only two clubs in the world to have hosted the same tournament for more than 60 consecutive years, the club is extremely proud of the Hong Kong Open, its unique heritage and what it has done to put Hong Kong firmly on the global golfing map. We very much look forward to the championship’s return to Fanling.”
The 61st edition of the Hong Kong Open, which was staged in January 2020, saw Australia’s Wade Ormsby become a two-time winner on the Hong Kong Golf Club’s composite course, made up of the best holes from the New Course and Eden Course.
Former champions of the tournament, which contributes significantly to Hong Kong’s status as the events' capital of Asia, include Greg Norman, Ian Woosnam, Tom Watson, Colin Montgomerie, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose.
Amelia Garvey to play Symetra Tour in the United States
New Zealand professional Amelia Garvey has fallen short of progressing through to the final stage of the LPGA Tour qualifying school but has gained status for next year on the LPGA Tour’s secondary circuit, the Symetra Tour.
Garvey, 21, finished in a share of 62nd place at even par of stage two of the qualifying series, three shots outside the top 45 and ties who progress through to the final qualifying series in December.
Although she has missed out on playing on the main tour next year, she’ll take up Symetra Tour status in 2022 and have a chance to work her way to the LPGA Tour that way.
Top golf broadcaster Renton Laidlaw dies
Renton Laidlaw, one of golf’s most respected broadcasters and journalists, has died at the age of 82.
With his distinctive Scottish lilt, Laidlaw’s voice became synonymous with golf for fans across the world.
With a career in golf commentary, presenting and journalistic reporting that spanned over 60 years, Laidlaw provided the narration for many of golf’s greatest moments.
For the best part of four decades, Edinburgh-born Laidlaw was a fixture in commentary booths and media centres across Asia and in Australia.
Martin Slumbers, chief executive of The R&A, paid affectionate tribute to one of golf’s most prominent and respected media personalities.
“We are all deeply saddened to hear of Renton’s passing and our thoughts are with his family and many friends at this sad time. Renton’s knowledge, insight, wit and wonderfully distinctive voice made him an immensely popular figure in golf and sport in general.
“He was admired by so many of us who grew up listening to his commentary or reading his reports from The Open and the other Major championships.
“Renton made a remarkable contribution to golf over a long and successful career. He will be greatly missed by players and fans throughout the world and by his many friends in The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.”
Until its last publication in 2014, Laidlaw edited The R&A Golfer’s Handbook whilst also authoring many of his own books about the game.
After retiring in 2014, he was awarded the 2015 Masters Major Achievement Award in recognition of his coverage of Masters Tournaments, becoming the first non-American journalist to win the award.
This joined a significant list of awards received throughout his esteemed career, including the title as first European winner of The PGA of America Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism in 2003, and the 2012 PGA in Scotland Lifetime Achievement Award.
He was also recipient of the Jack Nicklaus Memorial Award for golfing journalism and earned further awards from The PGA and the PGAs of Europe.
Abu Dhabi added to Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific calendar
Next year's Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) championship will be staged at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in the United Arab Emirates from November 10-13.
Developed by The R&A and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), the championship is returning to the international golf schedule for the first time since the global pandemic interrupted golf championships around the world.
Martin Slumbers, chief executive at The R&A, said: “After the disruption caused by the pandemic over the last 18 months we are excited to be staging the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship at such a fantastic venue.
“It is more important than ever to provide opportunities for elite women amateurs to compete in Asia-Pacific and we look forward to another thrilling championship in November.”
Taimur Hassan Amin, chairman of the APGC, said: “The Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship has been a wonderful addition to the APGC’s golfing calendar and we very much look forward to welcoming it back to the schedule following last year’s postponement due to covid-19. Not only does the WAAP present our leading female players the chance to compete against their peers but it also acts as an inspiration for all up-and-coming golfers.
“This year’s historic win at the US Women’s Open by Yuka Saso, joint runner-up in the inaugural WAAP, served to underline the importance of this championship as a platform for the game’s development and rising talent in the region.”
Shaikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF), said: “As a member of the APGC we are delighted to welcome this prestigious championship to the UAE for the first time. It has given us great joy to see two major winners emerge from this championship and we look forward to hosting these talented amateurs at one of our finest courses. It is an honour to support the APGC and The R&A to advance our shared mission of driving golf’s growth and development.”
The Peter Harradine-designed course opened in 1998, complete with saltwater lakes, ornamental trees and palms along with lush playing surfaces, bold strategic bunkering and large greens.
Just three years after the inaugural WAAP, two players from that first field have gone on to the highest echelons of the sport by becoming major champions – 21-year-old Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand claimed victory at the ANA Inspiration in April and 19-year-old Yuka Saso won the US Women’s Open in June to become the first player from the Philippines, male or female, to win amajor.
The WAAP was developed by The R&A and APGC to unearth emerging talent and provide a pathway for Asia’s elite women amateurs to the international stage. The winner earns invitations to play in the Women’s Open in Britain and The Evian Championship in France, as well as an invitation to participate in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
The 2021 WAAP will follow on from the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, which is scheduled to take place at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club from November 3-6.