Hainan,China,27 October 2010 – The inauguralMission Hills Star Trophy launched in pageantry today(Wednesday) as the world’s most exciting celebrities and golfers descended on Mission Hills·Haikou in Hainan, China forthe ground-breaking celebrity Pro-Am, that is already oneof the region`s leading lifestyle and entertainmentevent.

Dr. Ken Chu, Vice Chairman of Mission Hills Group, was joined atthe opening press conference by a host of sporting stars and internationalcelebrities. Tournament ambassador and double Open champion, Greg Norman, tookto the stage alongside Hollywood superstar Christian Slater, Olympic greatMichael Phelps, Chinese film director Feng Xiaogang and one of China’sfavourite actors, the evergreen Chan Dao Ming.

The Mission Hills Star Trophy brings togethersuperstar celebrities, including Catherine Zeta-Jones, Christian Slater, HughGrant, Matthew McConaughey andMichael Phelps among others, and the world’s biggest golfing names, such as Greg Norman, Sir Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie and some of women’s golf’sgreatest ever stars, Lorena Ochoa, Annika Sorenstam and Se Ri Pak.

Theevent’s star power was further bolstered this week with the announcement thatTseng Yani, currently ranked 4th in the world in the women’s gamewill be joining the professionals as they compete for Asia’srichest individual golfing prize of a US$1.28 million winner’s cheque.

SaidMission Hills’ Dr. Ken Chu: “Tomorrow, we will take the next step in thedevelopment of our golfing vision when we tee off on the magnificent BlackstoneCourse.  For the first time in Asia, wehave brought together some of the biggest names in global entertainment to playalongside golfing greats in a Celebrity Pro-Am that is already one of theregion’s leading lifestyle and entertainment events.”

AddedNorman: “The time is right for Asia and, indeed,Chinato host an event of the unique stature of the Mission Hills Star Trophy. Bybringing together celebrities and top professional golfers for the first timein Asia, Mission Hills has ensured the sport will receive enormous exposure here and abroad, as will the superb facilitiesat Mission Hills ·Haikou.”

Beijing Olympic darling MichaelPhelps, who has been at Mission Hills’ Shenzhen facility fine-tuning his gamein preparation for the Mission Hills Star Trophy, isthrilled to be back in China:“This country holds very special memories for me and I will never forget thesupport I got from the Chinese public at the Beijing Games.  Golf is a passion of mine and I am honouredto be part of something as special as the inaugural Mission Hills Star Trophy.”

FengXiaogang, one of China’sleading actors, writers and film directors, was keen to stress the importanceof the event for golf’s development in the region: “It is a great honor for meto welcome the leading celebrities and golfers from around the globe to China.The Mission Hills Star Trophy will continue to develop golf in China and share an exciting new destination, Hainan, with the world,”

The Mission Hills Star Trophy field includescelebrities, professionals and selected amateurs, with the amateurs playingwith the celebrities and professional golfers tomorrow(Thursday) and on Friday in Pro-Am format.

Theweekend play will then be in four-ball stroke play format between 18 teams consisting of a celebrity and a professional, with a 36-holeindividual professional event running concurrently on the Blackstone Course.The pro event offers a US$1.28 million first place cheque, the richestindividual prize in Asian golf.

TheMission Hills Star Trophy will be beamed live to over 150 counties acrossthe world.  The TV output will be managedby esteemed broadcaster Terry Jastrow, the veteran sports producer of 68 golfmajors and six Olympic Games over his glittering career.  Terry has won seven Emmy awards and beennominated for 17 times.

TheMission Hills Star Trophy is one of the first major events supporting agovernment-led initiative to make Hainan a leading international tourismdestination in the coming years and reaffirms Mission Hills ·

Haikouas the world’s most memorable golf resort. In 2011, the OMEGA Mission HillsWorld Cup will also be played at Mission Hills·Haikou.