Windy Shao

windysjf@hotmail.com

HUANG YUTENG, a 14-year-old from China’s Taiwan, defended his title at the 17th Mission Hills Golfathon at Mission Hills Dongguan on Friday.

More than 120 players participated in the grand final of the Golfathon, which lasted more than five months and attracted more than 8,000 players. The event is dubbed as the longest golf tournament in the world.

Huang has participated in several tournaments at Mission Hills and has achieved good results. He said he had practiced with coaches at the PGA Golf Academy at Mission Hills to improve his performance.

This year’s Golfathon has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, said Han Zhishan, golf club general manager of Mission Hills. More than 1,000 Hong Kong players failed to show up because of the border control but the total number of players only declined by about several hundred.

Launched in 2004 to celebrate Mission Hills’ recognition as the world’s largest golf club, the Golfathon offers the opportunity for golf enthusiasts to play the club’s 10 award-winning golf courses in Shenzhen and Dongguan.

Over the past years, Mission Hills Golfathon has attracted nearly 100,000 participants from more than 30 countries to compete on courses designed by golf legends like Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Nick Faldo and Annika Sorenstam.

Amateur golfers, both men and women, regardless of age, can all participate in the annual event. The youngest player so far is 5 years old and the oldest is 85.

The 2020 Golfathon champion won a Guest Package of Mission Hills Golfathon 2021, a free Golf & Hotel Package in Mission Hills Haikou, including a 2-night stay in SPA VILLA and 2 Haikou Course Green Coupons.