VietNamNet Bridge – The Mercedes-Benz Tour is coming back to Viet Nam along with some of the most famous golfers in the ASEAN region, all competing at Ha Noi’s Van Tri Golf Club from November 20 to 23.

A full field of 144 players will compete in the event, including a number of the region’s top amateur players and Viet Nam’s eight best golfers.

Since Viet Nam currently do not have any professional golfers, all of these Vietnamese participants are attending on invitation.

The Mercedes-Benz Masters Viet Nam is co-operating with the Viet Nam Golf Association to develop the game in the country.

“The tour really suits our requirements as it is about creating more playing opportunities. We really need more tournaments in Viet Nam to increase our number of talented golfers,” said Dr Nguyen Ngoc Chu, general secretary of the Viet Nam Golf Association.

“In the Mercedes-Benz Masters Viet Nam last year, amateur Huynh Van Son was the joint first round leader. This was an amazing achievement and I am sure we can expect similar local success stories this year,” added Chu.

Participants will practise on November 17 and 18. The following day will be a tournament day for invited guests.

The official competition will be on November 20. Only 65 golfers will qualify in the last round of the four-day tournament and the winner will take the top prize of around US$8,500.

The tournament is part of a golf tour for ASEAN countries. It was so successful last year that Mercedes-Benz decided to sponsor the whole tour this year and six of the 10 scheduled events.

“Last year’s Mercedes-Benz Masters Viet Nam allowed us to test out the concept of running tournaments to help give more playing opportunities for young professionals in the region,” said Udo Loersch, general director of Mercedes-Benz Viet Nam.

“This season the Mercedes-Benz Masters Viet Nam will form the penultimate leg of the Tour and will be followed by the Mercedes-Benz Masters Thailand,” added Loersch.

Van Tri Golf Club is the first exclusively private golf estate in Viet Nam. The club is conveniently located 22km from central Ha Noi on the way to Noi Bai International Airport.

(Source: Viet Nam News)