Shanghai: Silport welcomed back an esteemed group of old friends when 89 alumni of China Europe International Business School came to the club to stage its own version of the “President’s Cup”.

With the field consisting of school alumni from the eastern, southern and northern parts of China, the players teed off in wet condition in the morning under the New New Peoria scoring system over the North and West courses. Following a break for lunch, the sun came out as the tournament continued over the East and Center course layouts, the configuration used to stage last year’s Volvo China Open.

The competition was the second time CEIBS had staged its President’s Cup at Silport and the occasion was being used as a selection trial for setting up the academy’s golf team. The creation of such a team was considered important as the sport was increasingly becoming more and more associated with business in China.

With CEIBS and Silport having previously established a cooperative relationship, such a partnership was viewed as a win-win situation. With Silport being one of China’s leading businessman’s golf club and CEIBS having produced many domestic and international business leaders, the relationship can only move forward and achieve greater goals.

A CEIBS official said the reason why it chose Silport as its partner was because of its international-standard course, perfect greens, professional services and expertise in event management, among others.

At the banquet following the golf, Professor Xu Xiaonian and Silport Chairman Beta Soong signed a document proclaiming each Tuesday to be “Silport- CEIBS Alumni Day”. According to the document, Silport becomes the sole course used by the China Europe International Business School golf team for its daily training and in staging its big golf events.