Shanghai: The January debut of Silport’s monthly medal competition lived up to its aim of bringing club members together in a competitive situation as the winner’s list featured a diverse group of golf talent from around the region.

Playing over the club’s East and Center layouts, the inaugural medal drew the maximum quota of 40 players in a stroke play format divided into Groups A and B according to handicap. Each foursome was determined by members drawing straws to increase the competitive nature of the event and to make new friends.

As with all great clubs in the world the monthly medal, along with other tournaments, is now a fixture on the Silport calendar. It will be played on the first Sunday of every month with a grand final at the end of the season to determine the club’s champion golfer for the year.

The Group A handicap provided a particularly fierce battle between a couple of Taiwanese. He Mingqin shot a seven-over 79 for a nett 70. The score was just enough to beat senior golfer Chen Guoying as the 14.9 handicap carded a gross 85 in the cool conditions for a nett 70.1.

Hirokazu Takabayashi topped Group B as the 22-handicap Japanese shot 99 for a nett 77. Hae Hahn was runner-up as the Korean-American woman, a 21.9 handicap, shot 101 for a nett 79.1.

The four players now qualify for the season-ending club championship.

At the reception following the golf, where KATSUTOSHI FUJIKI of Japan won the lucky draw, the general consensus among the members was that the new monthly medal competition was a winner.

“I want to thank the club for providing the good opportunity to gather the members at Silport together so that we can make more friends during the event,” said Chen Guoying, the Group A runner-up, who showed his game was still competitive despite being over 70. “I enjoy golf very much and I will keep playing until I can’t.”

Japanese member: Masahiro Fukawa said: “It is a very happy thing for me to join this event as a Silport member. I hope to play in the event as much as I can.”

Zhang Baokun was equally complimentary as he hoped the medal competitions could advance his skill level. He said he would like to see the club offer clinics on golf skills and rules in future for the benefit of the players.

Wu Zhongfang: said he enjoyed the social nature of the event as it allowed him to get to know more Silport members. “The monthly medal is the best way for the members to meet and connect. I look forward to the development of the medal as it brings the members closer together.”

The Hahns, a golfing couple, called the competition “nicely organized and an excellent idea”. “We enjoyed it very much met some good friends, good food and good company.”