April 8, 2009: Chinese Taipei star Tsai Chi-huang has confirmed he will return to Chengdu to defend his title at the Luxehills Golf Championship, which will be held from June 11-14 and mark the third event on this year’s Omega China Tour。

　　Tsai won last year’s inaugural event at the Luxehills Golf and Country Club with an 18-under-par 270, the circuit’s lowest-ever sub-par total. The Shanghai-based 40-year-old announced his return to Chengdu at a press conference and signing ceremony in Beijing for the renewal of Luxehills’ title sponsorship。

　　“Luxehills is a very good course and Chengdu is a beautiful city. I enjoyed my week there very much and I’m really looking forward to playing there again in June,” said Tsai, a former Asian Tour regular and only the third player to win all three ‘Majors’ in Chinese Taipei。

　　“I played with Zhang Xinjun, Yuan Hao and Liao Guiming, who are all good players and their spirit and commitment motivated me to shoot low that week。”

　　Tsai played all four days at Luxehills with Chengdu-based Zhang Xinjun, one of China’s top amateurs who made headlines by heading the field at the halfway stage and sharing the lead with Tsai after the third round。

　　Tsai, who also won the Tianjin Championship in September, said this year’s circuit looked more competitive, with the local players gaining more experience, a stronger Qualifying School for foreigners and more invitations from abroad。

　　“The Omega China Tour has become stronger and stronger,” he said. “There are better foreign players this year and the competition has become more intense。”

　　C.B. Fong, General Manager of Luxehills Golf and Country Club, signed the title sponsorship contract at Sofitel Wanda Beijing with Wang Liwei, Deputy Director General of the Multi-Ball Games Administrative Centre of the General Administration of Sport, and Raymond Roessel, Vice President - Golf, East Asia for tour promoter World Sport Group。

　　Luxehills was voted Favourite Course of the Year by the players in last year’s Omega China Tour Awards. This year, the popular event will offer an increased purse of RMB1 million (about US$146,000)， matching the prize money offered in last month’s Dell Championship and last October’s Omega Championship。

　　“The first Luxehills Golf Championship enjoyed great support from local golf fans and widespread media coverage, so we want to continue to grow awareness of Luxehills,” said Fong, a driving force behind Luxehills hosting the ninth National Golf Clubs General Managers Conference last October。

　　“The Favourite Course award showed great appreciation of our venue by the players. 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。”

　　Last September’s 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。

　　Chengdu is the capital of the western province of Sichuan, traditionally home to the majority of China’s giant pandas and known in China as Tian Fu Zhi Guo ('heavenly state’)。

　　The second event of this year’s Omega China Tour is the Sofitel Zhongshan IGC Open at the Nanjing Zhongshan International Golf Club from April 23-26。