Shanghai: FedEx Express played host to 43 of its top clients and executives when the courier and logistics giant hosted its annual FedEx Asian Golf Challenge 2006 at Silport.

With clear conditions on one of the first warm days of the year, after a welcoming breakfast, the players repaired to the driving range where guest coaches instructed the participants in the fine art of developing a proper pre-game warm-up routine, practice techniques and tips on chipping and putting.

The practice paid off for James Tsai as the Wistron executive proved the dominant player in the field when he captured prizes in two categories on the day. Playing on Silport’s Championship layout (Center and West Courses), the 10 handicap shot a 15-over 87 to finished tied with Benson Lau for the low gross. However, he would finish runner-up to the Enlight businessman, a 20 handicap, by virtue of a countback.. Tsai also won one of the Beat-the-Pro prizes when he outdrove the pro.

The other big winner was Chin Fai as after capturing the nearest-the-pin honor, he also won the low nett prize with a nett 63 score. David Heap of Virtual Village won the longest drive prize on the West Course No. 9 hole, while Nelson Poon, Steven Freeman, William Chang and Fermi Woon also claimed a Beat-the-Pro prize.

At a dinner following the tournament, Clarence Lee, FedEx China sales division managing director, toasted the players in a speech, saying the company spared no efforts in striving to perfect its relationships with customers and staff.

He said that FedEx had been in the mainland China market for 21 years and had enjoyed a healthy and prosperous development in the express service market. Lee pointed out that in 2008, the courier would increase its service levels in the country when it moves its Asia-Pacific hub from the Philippines to Guangzhou airport in Guangdong Province.