Grand Opening of the 2024 GOLFZON China Open Finals

On September 13, the finals of the ‘2024 China Indoor Golf Open & GOLFZON China Indoor Open’ opened in grand fashion at the GOLFZON Tianjin City Golf Course, which was unveiled to the world for the first time that day, and the Round 1 competition was concluded.

Attending the opening ceremony were He Fengxiang, Chairman of the China Golf Association, and Secretary-General Wei Qingfeng; Wu Weifeng, Inspector of the Tianjin Sports Bureau; Kwon Soon-gi, Chairman of the China-Asia Economic Development Association; Gong Hyun-woo, former Vice Minister of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Zhang Lishun, Party Secretary of Tianjin University of Sport; Liu Baohua, Dean of the School of Social Sports; Lin Yang, Executive President of Zhong’an Aiyou Sports Culture Industry; Park Young-jo, Chairman of GOLFZON China; and Park Sung-bong, Chairman of GOLFZON China. Also in attendance were Aike, Editor-in-Chief of Golf Digest, who served as a commentator for the event; Yang Gang, golf host of Hainan Satellite TV; Hei Jiantao, golf commentator for CCTV; the 100 players who advanced to the finals; and representatives of major media outlets.

In his congratulatory opening remarks, Wei Qingfeng, Secretary-General of the China Golf Association, said, “The 2024 China Indoor Golf Open & GOLFZON China Indoor Open is a key project being pursued since the China Golf Association and GOLFZON China resumed their strategic partnership,” adding, “Launched in 2020, this tournament has opened the era of digital competition in Chinese golf amid the keen interest of countless golf enthusiasts.”

He continued, “Each year the tournament continues to introduce new changes in its format, prize scale, range of participating players, and host venues,” and stated, “The fact that this year’s finals are being held in Tianjin will serve as an important milestone in the cooperative development of the golf industry in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.” He also added, “We look forward to it expanding its influence to the international stage and growing into a world-class sporting event.”

In his welcoming address, Park Sung-bong, Chairman of GOLFZON China, introduced the event by saying, “The GOLFZON China Indoor Open is a large-scale original sports IP independently developed by GOLFZON China—a tournament designed so that anyone, regardless of age, gender, or occupation, can take part in a top-level indoor golf competition spanning the entire country.”

He went on, “The GOLFZON Tianjin City Golf Course will provide an innovative competition experience for both participating players and spectators,” adding, “we expect it to become a stage that presents a new direction for digital golf competition.” He also said, “We hope these finals conclude successfully, and we wish for all players to demonstrate their best skills and enjoy the competition.”

Afterward, He Fengxiang, Chairman of the China Golf Association, and Park Sung-bong, Chairman of GOLFZON China, took the stage together to unveil the championship trophy, and with Chairman He’s official declaration, the finals of the ‘2024 China Indoor Golf Open & GOLFZON China Indoor Open’ officially began.

These finals drew a large number of outstanding professional players, instructors, and amateur players from across the country. A total of 100 players took part, including 24 players who advanced directly through the preliminaries, 64 players who passed the August promotion round, and 12 domestic and international players invited as wild cards by the China Golf Association, AGLF, and GOLFZON China. The tournament is being conducted as a four-round, 72-hole stroke play event.

At the end of Round 1, Chinese professional Chen Dinggen, who finished the back nine without a bogey, took the sole lead with a 1-under-par 71. South Korean female professional Kim Ha-neul and Thai female professional Pakin each carded 72 to tie for second place.

The two players competed as AGLF-recommended wild cards. Kim Ha-neul topped the KLPGA money list in 2011 and 2012 and holds a victory at the 2017 Suntory Ladies Open on the Japan LPGA Tour. She has also participated in the metaverse golf national team exhibition matches hosted by GOLFZON China in 2022 and 2024. Pakin, too, has maintained strong form this year, recording one win and two runner-up finishes on the professional stage.

In a post-round interview, Chen Dinggen said, “I consider the City Golf Course a new starting point for the GOLFZON China Indoor Open,” adding, “the combination of indoor simulators and real greens is very impressive.” He continued, “Compared with pure indoor simulator play, the experience of professional players may carry greater weight here, but it is still a quite challenging course,” and predicted, “the winning score will likely be around 5-under par.”

He also said, “I really wanted to compete in the finals, so I even practiced on the simulator for 7 to 8 hours a day,” adding, “with a prize fund of 5 million yuan on the line this year, the level of participants and the intensity of competition have risen even further. I look forward to the tournament developing even more going forward.”

Kim Ha-neul evaluated, “Playing at the GOLFZON City Golf Course has a fast tempo and a high level of tension,” adding, “the atmosphere of the competition and the feel of the play are almost the same as conventional field tournaments.” She continued, “An innovative indoor golf course like this can attract more golf fans and will be a great help in broadening the base of golf.”

Meanwhile, the finals of the ‘2024 GOLFZON China Indoor Open’ were co-hosted by the China Golf Association and the Tianjin Sports Bureau and organized by GOLFZON China. China Mobile Migu participated as an official partner, while AGLF and Tianjin University of Sport served as supporting institutions. Sponsors included Hana Bank, the China subsidiary of IBK Industrial Bank of Korea, WAAC, BOLUX, Beachhead, and FILA GOLF.

In addition, major media outlets including the Beijing TV Sports Channel, Sina Golf, Golf Digest, Hainan Satellite TV, China Sports Daily, iQIYI Sports, Youku, and Sohu supported coverage of the tournament, and the competition was also broadcast live through the official channels of the China Golf Association and GOLFZON.