Shanghai, China: Tony Chen Dezhu’s golfing pals really know how to celebrate his first-ever career hole-in-one in style.

Just five weeks after the BMW regional boss recorded his inaugural ace, his golfing society, Team Taipan, dedicated its monthly tournament to him in honor of his memorable feat.

In the tournament held at Shanghai Silport, a field of 36 players from Taiwan, Shanghai, Singapore and other places around the region, teed off.

On June 7, Chen, a 26 handicap and one of the founding members of Silport, aced Silport’s Center Course 164-yard par three number two hole. For his feat, he received an especially-made plaque mounted with his hole-in-one ball.

“My score is usually between 95 and 105 – I am actually not really very good. But when you get a hole-in-one, it doesn’t really matter. It elevates you up to a very good player and I am proof that high handicaps can still do it,” he said.

“Golf to me is about exercise and relaxation. I enjoy Silport and its surroundings. It is a very peaceful place. To get that hole-in-one was special. Every time I return to that (number two) tee, I wonder if I can do it again.”

Chen, who oversees the distribution of BMW sedans for Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, said it has been a very exciting time of late in China for the luxury German automaker. Last year, BMW sold about 4,000 units in his region while this year it is on track to sell 5,500.

Overall, BMW Group reported it sold nearly 6,700 cars in the mainland in its 2002 financial year.

“BMW is booming, really booming. Every year since 2000, because the demand is so big, the growth has been 30 to 50 percent annually,” Chen said. “About 80,000 imported cars of all brands were imported into China last year and BMW is taking 10 to 12 percent of the market.”

The numbers could rise significantly in future when BMW Group begins its joint venture with Brilliance China Automotive. The factory in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province, is scheduled to start production in November this year.

The factory will produce BMW 3 Series and 5 Series sedan models. An annual production of 30,000 vehicles is being targeted. BMW is investing 450 million euros in the 50-50 joint venture through 2005.

“The major components of the cars will be imported from Germany. They will be supplemented by some Chinese components and assembled at the Shenyang factory. Brilliance China Automotive is taking responsibility for all of the marketing in the country,” Chen said.

“Overall, it will make the assembled-in-China BMW about 30 percent cheaper in the domestic market. That’s outstanding for such a luxury automobile.”