A golfer play in the opening day of the tournament. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The Lexus Challenge 2022, hosted by the Việt Nam Golf Association (VGA), starts at Tràng An Golf & Country Club, Ninh Bình, on March 8.

The four-day tournament is sponsored by Lexus Việt Nam with a total prize purse of up to VNĐ 1.6 billion. 

Lexus Challenge 2022 will host a competition of 134 golf players covering pro to amateur levels, welcoming young golfers living in the country and other parts of the world.

This is a record for the most participating players among the country's professional golf tournaments: 120 male golfers, 14 female golfers, 105 pro players and 24 international players. 

The tournament promises a thriving atmosphere along with performances by leading players of the VGA Tour: Trương Chí Quân, Đỗ Hồng Giang, Nguyễn Hữu Quyết, Park Sang-Ho and Kim Woo Jin.

The presence of rising young Vietnamese talents such as Nguyễn Anh Minh, Trần Lam, Đoàn Uy, Lê Khánh Hưng is expected to excite fans.

In the Women's Division, which is organised for the first time in VGA history, some of the most anticipated female participants are Nguyễn Thảo My, Đoàn Xuân Khuê Minh and Lê Chúc An. 

For amateur players, the required Handicap Index has been adjusted to 5 and lower to ensure the quality of the competition. On becoming the next champions, all players have to go through four official rounds packed with challenges and excitement. 

The main competition will occur at the par-72 Champion Course, which spans 7,074 yards with two lakes, five streams and 98 bunkers. The reclusive location of Tràng An Golf & Country Club enables VGA to operate a "bubble" tournament, conducting precautionary measures against COVID-19.

To encourage amateur players, Lexus Challenge 2022 has decided to follow the Rules of Amateur Status 2022, effective since January 1 this year, which allows amateur golfers to receive up to VNĐ230 million per tournament. Other local rules to be applied are the One Ball Rule, Conforming Driver Heads and Golf Ball, Range-finder devices Accepted, and Motorised Transportation Not Allowed.

Due to the pandemic, the Organising Committee has been collaborating with local governments to ensure the health and safety of all players and staff. 

The tournament has supported 100 per cent of participation fees for eight players under 18 for sustainable golf development. In addition, for the first time, the tournament has put together a Women's division, customising a more proper route for female players instead of having them share the same course length with the men.

Keeping up with the green movement from the last season, the Lexus Challenge 2022 says no to single-use plastics. Each participant will be provided with a water bottle, and refilling stations will also be placed across the venue.

The tournament, which will be wrapped up on Friday, will be broadcast live until March 11 on a wide variety of channels. VNS