Hana Bank Vietnam Masters Tees Off at New Venue in December

The Hana Bank Vietnam Masters will make its return to the 2008 Asian Tour Schedule from December 4 to 7, with Asia's top stars battling for a total prize fund of US$500,000 at a new venue.

The Vietnam Golf and Country Club, located 20 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City has been confirmed as the host venue for this year's event where Thailand's Chapchai Nirat is the defending champion.

As the first 36-hole golf club in Vietnam, the Vietnam Golf and Country Club is widely regarded as Vietnam's premier golf club and will host an Asian Tour event for the first time.

Hana Bank, one of the largest banks in Korea, is a strong supporter of professional golf. The bank is a major sponsor of the Kolon Hana Bank Korea Open, which forms part of the Asian Tour.

Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han supported the initiative to move the event to Ho Chi Minh City after the inaugural tournament was successfully held in Hanoi last year.

"We are very happy to welcome the Vietnam Golf and Country Club as our host venue for this year's Hana Bank Vietnam Masters. The layout and course design are of international standard and I'm sure they will provide our players with a challenging test," said Han.

He also lauded the support and involvement of the Vietnam Golf Association, which is the guardian of the game in the country. He said that every effort has been put in by the association to further spur the growth of golf.

Last year's inaugural event was staged in Hanoi but the organisers felt that it was important to move the event to other parts of the country as part of its efforts to promote the game.

The Hana Bank Vietnam Masters is part of the Asian Tour schedule that will reach an unprecedented 30 tournaments this season with nearly US$39 million in total prize money, an all-time high in Asian golf history.

As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the
integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. (Asian Tour Release)