Shanghai: HSBC entertained 48 of its high-end customers with an invitational tournament at Silport as the banking institution celebrated its 140th anniversary.

Mike Yeung, HSBC’s head of personal financial service for China, said the banking giant was entertaining three specific types of customers at the tournament in personal banking, commercial and multinational firms.

“Today we have some of our Western customers, Taiwanese, Hong Kong guests and some local entrepreneurs,” he said. “I can see from their faces that they enjoy such events very much. Golf has become a very popular sport either as entertainment or as a social gathering. For us, it is a provides us with a very good opportunity to get closer to our customers and find out about their specific needs.”

HSBC’s association with golf is destined to make a huge splash in China in November when the lender is bringing superstar Tiger Woods to Shanghai for the US$5 million Champions tournament at Sheshan Golf Club.

Yeung said the bank had long been involved in the sponsorship of Formula One auto racing and its association with golf was an extension of that.

“We think China is a very important and suitable location in the world and the future is very prosperous. It is an important branding opportunity and an event that will attract a lot of attention,” he said.

“Silport is also very good. It has hosted the Volvo China Open for quite a few years and I was here the year before when Zhang Lianwei became the champion. I was a witness to history.”

On the course, Yeh Hongching captured the low gross prize when the 12 handicap carded an 87. Duan Jian, a 13.2 handicap, also shot an 87 but finished runner-up in a countback. Xia Ming was second runner-up with 89.

In the low nett category, 16.8 handicap Cheung Yanchoi, president of Sheshan Golf Club, shot a 91 for a nett 74.2. Ni Longyuan, a 20.4 handicap, finished runner-up with a nett 74.6 while Tony Tsai, a 22.8 handicap, was second runner up with a nett 75.2.

Other prizes saw Wu Longde earn the nearest-the-pin honor at Hole # 2 on the West course, while Guo Yong had the longest drive on Hole #8 on the East Course. Anthony Fong won the booby prize with a score of 128