新浪体育讯　March 27, 2009: The Luxehills Golf Championship will mark the third event on this year’s Omega China Tour after Luxehills International Golf Club announced the renewal of its title sponsorship of the Chengdu event。

　　The second Luxehills Golf Championship will be held from June 11-14 and offer an increased purse of RMB1 million (about US$146,000)， matching the record prize money offered in last week’s Dell Championship and last October’s Omega Championship。

　　Luxehills was voted Favourite Course of the Year by the players in the Omega China Tour Awards after hosting a spectacular event last September. Chinese Taipei’s Tsai Chi-huang emerged victorious over the 7,335-yard Mark Hollinger-designed layout with an 18-under-par 270, the circuit’s lowest-ever total。

　　“We’re delighted to continue our support of the Omega China Tour and title-sponsorship of the Luxehills Golf Championship as we look to build on our success in hosting last year’s successful event,” said C.B. Fong, General Manager of Luxehills International Country Club。

　　“The Favourite Course award showed great appreciation of our venue by the players. The first event enjoyed great support from local golf fans and widespread media coverage, so we want to continue to grow awareness of Luxehills。”

　　The inaugural Luxehills Golf Championship marked the first time the Omega China Tour had visited Chengdu. The event was postponed from its original June schedule following the Sichuan Earthquake on May 12, although the course and facilities were unaffected。

　　“The Luxehills Golf Championship and the club’s association with the Omega China Tour has helped promote the Luxehills name on a nationwide, year-round basis, so it’s important we continue promoting our club and facilities,” Fong said。

　　“After the Luxehills Golf Championship in September, we hosted the Ninth National Golf Clubs General Managers Conference in October and hosting these two events back-to-back ensured huge exposure and respect for the club。”

　　The Omega China Tour’s stars turned out in force to play in the inaugural Luxehills Golf Championship, including local favourites Huang Mingjie and female pro Yang Taoli, who competed on a sponsor’s exemption。

　　Zhang Xinjun, the national team player who moved to Chengdu at the end of 2007 to develop his game, proved himself a star of the future by leading the professional event after the second and third rounds。

　　“Luxehills is a big supporter of Chinese golf and we’re happy that the Luxehills Golf Championship helps provide greater opportunities for its top players,” Fong said. “The event acts as a window for golf in Chengdu and Sichuan, and this is just the start of people knowing more about this special area。”

　　Known in China as Tian Fu Zhi Guo ('heavenly state’)， Chengdu is the capital of the western province of Sichuan, traditionally home to the majority of China’s giant pandas. The city is renowned for its world-famous Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center。

　　Wu Weihuang won the season-opening Dell Championship (March 19-22). The next event is the Sofitel Zhongshan IGC Open at the Nanjing Zhongshan International Golf Club from April 23-26。