ROYAL SALUTE VIPS TAKE THE SILPORT CHALLENGE

Shanghai: Royal Salute Scotch Whisky wrapped up a successful tournament season with the final leg of the Royal Salute Cup at Shanghai Silport.

Following earlier tournaments at Beijing International, Long Island Country Club in Dongguan, Guangdong and Xiamen Oriental in Fujian during June and July, the Shanghai finale managed to attract a field of 115 players consisting of VIP guests of the premium-brand whisky and Shanghai Silport members.

With the temperature hovering around the 35 degrees Celsius mark, the players teed off in a shotgun start on the Championship Course. The searing heat was evident from the start as several players dropped out as the tournament progressed due to the effects of sunstroke.

Silport member David Hong used his course knowledge to advantage as the 9.6 handicap fired a 10-over 82 to win the low nett with a nett 72.4. Wu Ming, a 19.2 handicap, shot a 93 for a nett 73.8 and the runner-up prize while 10.8 handicap Chen Zhangning was the second runner-up with a nett 74.2.

In the male gross section, Peng Yuye, a 4.8 handicap, shot the low score of the day with a gross 78. He was followed by first runner-up Jim Collins two strokes further behind, and Silport member Chen Zhangning who finished with an 81.

Wang Ai’Ming, a 10.8 handicap, captured the female gross following a round of 18-over-par 90 while Silport Member Chen Jing was runner-up. The 18 handicap carded a gross 93 for a nett 75.

After a hot day on the course, the players retired to the clubhouse where they enjoyed a buffet meal on the ground floor. Following dinner, an elaborate prize presentation was held in the upstairs restaurant with entertainment provided by erhu player Xu Ke and well-known pianist Wang Li.

As a whisky tasting exercise was being conducted, prizes, including bottles of whisky, trips, Mizuno golf clubs, golf shoes, apparel and golf bags, were being presented to the various golf winners and through lucky draws. Zheng An Guo and Charlie Shao proved to be the big winners on the night when the each won a trip to play Scotland’s famed St. Andrews Golf Links and a business-class air ticket courtesy of Virgin Airlines.

The pair will jet to Britain later this month to play in a special tournament to celebrate the 51st anniversary of Royal Salute.