Golf

Nguyễn Anh Minh wins the Tiền Phong Newspaper National Golf Championship 2022. The 2023 event will be organised on August 8-11 in Hải Phòng. Photo of Tiền Phong newspaper

HÀ NỘI The Tiền Phong Newspaper National Golf Championship will be held on August 8-11 in Hải Phòng City with a total of VNĐ1.2 billion delivered to the top-ranking athletes.

It is the second time that the newspaper has cooperated with the sports authority of Việt Nam and the Vietnam Golf Association holding the largest national competition for both professional and amateur players.

As many as 160 golfers, including 120 men and 40 women, will tee off in four rounds of 18 holes each at Vinpearl Golf Hải Phòng.

Organisers rule that the maximum handicap is six for amateur male golfers and 10 for females to ensure the quality of the 72-hole event.

The men will vie for a bonus of VNĐ1 billion while it is VNĐ200 million for women.

The top athletes will be picked for the national team in international events.

"We expect the tournament will contribute a lot to the development of golf in Việt Nam. Professional athletes, especially the national team members, will compete in the best conditions," said Lê Xuân Sơn, editor-in-chief of Tiền Phong.

"In addition, the youngsters will experience an elite tournament environment and sharpen their skills. We also hope that the championship will push the golf movement in Hải Phòng and help the local golf tourism boom into a potential economic sector," he said.

At the Hải Phòng tournament, all national teams who are to compete at the upcoming 19th Asian Games in China play free of charge while U18 talents will pay only 50 per cent of the fee.

The organising board of the Tiền Phong Newspaper National Golf Championship at the press conference on July 6 in Hà Nội. — Photo of Tiền Phong newspaper

A conference about Hải Phòng, a destination of golf tourism, will be organised during this time. Participants and visitors will have a chance to discuss golf tourism potential in Hải Phòng, as well as in Việt Nam in general.

Organisers will present scholarships for local poor students with good talent.

First organised in 2005, the national championship is the oldest golf event in the country, setting a foundation for the VGA's competition system.

For many years, it was the pioneering event, pushing the development of national golf.

Over the past 17 years, the tournament has expanded its scale, allowing foreigners to compete in 2008 and opening a category for women in 2012.

Last year marked a turning point of the championship when VGA decided to list it as an event of the VGA Tour, making it the only professional competition for the local golfers.

According to organisers, the switch helped them to find the best Vietnamese athletes, nurture their talents and prepare them for international tournaments.

Nguyễn Anh Minh and Đoàn Xuân Khuê Minh were the men's and women's champions, respectively, last year. They played key roles in Việt Nam's successful results at the recent 32nd SEA Games, winning one gold and one silver. VNS