[Haikou, China – 29 May 2018] More than 100 junior golfers from 10 different countries will be in action in Hainan, China this week when the 11th Mission Hills Jack Nicklaus Junior Golf Championship tees off on June 1-3.  

Stakes will be high at the Mission Hills Haikou resort, with the leading players invited to compete in the Nicklaus Junior Championship, played in the USA this summer at one of the beautiful courses in Palm Beach County, Florida. Nicklaus, the record 18-time major champion and his wife Barbara have been residents of Palm Beach County for over 50 years and are big supporters of junior golf in the area.

“I am incredibly proud that our China event is now entering its second decade and is more popular than ever,” said Nicklaus, golf history’s greatest champion and also considered one of the game’s most acclaimed designers, with more than 300 courses worldwide. “I have enjoyed a wonderful relationship with Mission Hills and the Chu family dating back to 1992 when I started designing my golf course at Mission Hills in Shenzhen. Since then, the course has witnessed many historic events, including the first World Cup of Golf in China in 1995 and the inaugural Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in 2009, founded by the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation, the Masters Tournament and The R&A.”

“In fact two of our past winners – Guan Tianlang in 2011 and Jin Cheng in 2012 – went on to win the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship and that should inspire the boys and girls taking part this year,” added Nicklaus, also known as the Golden Bear. “Most important, I hope they have a great time, play good golf, enjoy the camaraderie and have a lot of fun.”

Tenniel Chu, Group Vice-Chairman of Mission Hills commented:  “We are very proud to be working with Jack Nicklaus and taking his junior championship into its eleventh year. Mr. Nicklaus has been a rich part of the Mission Hills story as both a course designer and a junior golf ambassador and his tournament has played a strong part in the development of Chinese golf.”

Established as one of the premier junior events on the Asia-Pacific golf calendar, the 2018 Mission Hills Jack Nicklaus Junior Golf Championship will feature an international field representing 10 different countries. A strong challenge is expected from several top-ranked home players, hoping to follow in the footsteps of past Chinese winners Guan and Cheng who went on to win the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in 2012 and 2015 respectively, earning an invitation to The Masters Tournament.

With R&A and China Golf Association ranking points on offer, the tournament will take place over three rounds on the Sandbelt Trails course at the luxury Mission Hills Haikou resort on the tropical Chinese island province of Hainan. Hosted by the Hainan Golf Association, the championship is part of the Mission Hills Junior Golf Programme which stages more than 30 tournaments and events each year for tens of thousands of children and has been helping to promote and develop the sport in China for more than 25 years.