Golf: UBS Hong Kong Open Charity Cup to Take Place 28 October 2015

The title sponsor, organisers, and official charity of the UBS Hong Kong Open 2015 have launched a charitable initiative, the UBS Hong Kong Open Charity Cup.

The event, which will take place on 28 October at the Hong Kong Golf Club, is organised in conjunction with Friends of Asia Hong Kong, the official charity of the 2015 UBS Hong Kong Open, and venue sponsor, the Hong Kong Golf Club.

“UBS is delighted to support this exciting new campaign, which is the latest in a series of activities designed to ensure that the Open leaves a positive legacy for all of Hong Kong,” said Ms Kathryn Shih, Head of UBS Wealth Management APAC. “On behalf of UBS, I would like to thank all of our event partners for their support, especially Friends of Asia HK and the Hong Kong Golf Club and its members, who have opened the course for use by the public for an additional day for the UBS Hong Kong Open Charity Cup.”

Friends of Asia HK has pledged to match the total funds raised from the Charity Cup campaign dollar for dollar, with a minimum donation of HK$1,000,000 granted to the campaign’s charity beneficiaries.

Proceeds will be shared equally among three children’s / youth-focused organisations:

· Playright Hospital Play Service, which provides intervention, support and comfort through play to ill children in local hospitals.

· InspiringHK Sport Foundation, which seeks to improve the lives of disadvantaged youth through sport.

· Autism Partnership Foundation’s Aoi Pui School, Hong Kong’s only school devoted to supporting autistic children and youth.

The Autism Partnership Foundation’s Aoi Pui School was a beneficiary of the 2014 tournament with Friends of Asia HK and the Hong Kong Golf Club each donating HK$100,000 to the school. The funds were used to financially support local children and youth suffering from autism spectrum disorder to attend the school.

Caleb Chan, Founder of Friends of Asia HK, said, “We are delighted to be the official charity of the venerable and much-loved UBS Hong Kong Open for the second year. Friends of Asia Hong Kong is committed to expanding the charitable profile of important events like the Charity Cup, in association with event partners such as UBS, the Hong Kong Golf Association, the Hong Kong Golf Club and the European and Asian Tours. It is always our aim to foster and practise the spirit of giving and the importance of helping others.”

In addition to contributing to the local community, one of the major attractions for Charity Cup participants is the unique opportunity to play on the UBS Hong Kong Open course, which is open for play on just nine days each year

. The Hong Kong Golf Club, venue sponsor of the UBS Hong Kong Open Charity Cup, is providing the venue for free for this first-of-its-kind charity golf event.

"The Club is delighted to be supporting the Charity Cup, which will provide a wonderful opportunity for local golfers to enjoy the Championship Course just days after the completion of the UBS Hong Kong Open," said Kenneth Lam, Captain of the Hong Kong Golf Club. “As well as our commitment to developing junior golf in Hong Kong, the Club works hard to host numerous fundraising initiatives for the benefit of the Hong Kong community throughout the year, so our involvement with this very worthy event is a natural step for us to take. It promises to be a special day.”

Apart from raising funds through registration fees for the Charity Cup, (HK$5,000 for individuals and HK$20,000 for teams of four), a range of other initiatives during the UBS Hong Kong Open week will generate funds for the beneficiary organisations.

Title sponsor, UBS, will support the campaign with a hole-in-one competition over the course of the UBS Hong Kong Open. The first professional who cards a hole-in-one on the 144-yard 12th hole at Fanling during the UBS Hong Kong Open will trigger an automatic donation to the UBS Hong Kong Open Charity Cup campaign.

The 2015 European Tour season has seen 43 holes-in-one recorded, with UBS Hong Kong Open headliners Miguel-Angel Jimenez, Dustin Johnson and Thongchai Jaidee all having accomplished the feat this season. Jimenez has three holes-in-one on the year while Dustin Johnson and Thai ace Thongchai Jaidee have carded one each.

Funds will also be raised via branded donation boxes placed on the course, in the expanded Spectator Village and inside the Friends of Asia HK booth during the UBS Hong Kong Open (22-25 October).

In keeping with the focus on enhancing the accessibility of the UBS Hong Kong Open for the wider community, organisers previously announced that entry to the first round on Thursday, 22 October, is free for all spectators. Spectators must however pre-register via the official ticketing website for the complimentary tickets.

Charity Cup donation boxes will be set up at the public entrance on Thursday and throughout the tournament to further encourage donations.