-
The highlight of the biggest international tournament series
for amateur golfers ends with the Chinese team winning the
National Team Category. -
A golf tournament at pro level and a fascinating supporting
programme underline the motto of the tournament series: “Once in A Lifetime”. -
Ryder Cup legend Colin Montgomerie presents the trophies as
the guest of honour.
Los Cabos. The World Final of the BMW Golf Cup International
was held in Mexico again for the first time in 17 years. Around
100,000 enthusiastic amateur golfers around the world took part in
the tournament series, for 100 of them, their dream of a unique
golfing experience came true last week. In Los Cabos at the southern
tip of the Baja California peninsula, Team China prevailed in the
National Team Category. At the closing gala dinner, eight-time
winner of the European Tour Order of Merit, Colin Montgomerie of
Scotland, presented the winners trophies in the individual rankings
to players from Germany, China and South Korea.
“The first World Final at Los Cabos since 2002 has been a wonderful
event. You can feel just how enthusiastic amateur golfers around the
world are about our tournament series. Thank you to all the
participants,” said Alexander Wehr, CEO BMW Group Latin America.
“Their sporting performance and the way they all got on together
created a special atmosphere on what are truly beautiful, but also
very demanding, golf courses. This World Final will live long in all
our memories.”
The World Final was played on the spectacular Cabo del Sol site. On
the Ocean Course (design: Jack Nicklaus) and the Desert Course
(design: Tom Weiskopf), the Chinese team dethroned Team Thailand after
three rounds with 303 points (Stableford, net); Team Thailand won
twice in a row, in George (RSA) last year and in Dubai (VAE) in 2017.
The Thai team (288) tied for third place with Team United Kingdom this
year, second place went to Team South Korea (290). Overall, amateur
golfers from 34 nations took part.
For the ladies, Jisook Kim (South Korea, 112) was a clear winner
ahead of second-placed Pornsawan Chansuke (Thailand, 106). In third
place was Samatha Hill (United Kingdom, 104). In contrast, there was a
heart-stopping finale in the Men I category: Three players were tied
with 106 points after 54 holes. In a “countback”, Xiaowei Wu (China)
was the eventual winner, ahead of his fellow countryman Qingquan Yang
and James Smith (USA).
Christian Batz of Germany celebrated the clearest victory of the
week. He only qualified for Mexico in the Germany final on Sylt on the
final match play hole; in Los Cabos he was in a class of his own in
the Men II category. With 109 points he was well ahead of Soon Tiew Oh
of Malaysia and Colin Pickett (United Kingdom, both 99).
“I can only repeat what I have said many times before: this is a
fantastic series of tournaments, and I am delighted to have been
invited to the World Final. BMW is an important partner to the sport
of golf, both at a professional level and at an amateur level,” said
Colin Montgomerie. “The World Final is a wonderful event for golf
enthusiasts and a fabulous display of what makes this sport so unique.
It was an honour for me to be in Los Cabos to join in this festival of golf.”
“Monty”, member of the “World Golf Hall of Fame” since 2013, provided
two highlights of the World Final himself, when he wowed guests at a
Golf Clinic and presented the trophies at the gala dinner. As a
dazzling end to the World Final, Montgomerie brought the trophy that
he won six times as a player and once as captain: the legendary Ryder Cup.
The World Final is not only a golf tournament at major level, the
event is also unrivalled away from the golf courses. The world
finalists and approximately 220 guests stayed at the exclusive resort
“Sheraton Grand Los Cabos Hacienda del Mar”. Exclusive evening events
and a supporting programme, which focussed on the spectacular scenery
of Baja California, Mexican culture and the fascinating wildlife of
the Gulf of California made the journey to Mexico a
“Once-In-A-Lifetime” experience.