HAINAN, China, Oct.
21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Andy
Garcia and Matt Kuchar were
crowned team champions at the 2012 World Celebrity Pro-Am (WCPA) at
Mission Hills Haikou.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121021/CN96918 )
The Oscar nominated Hollywood
star and 2011 Mission Hills World Cup champion produced an emphatic
display of team golf on the final day to finish with a combined
winning stableford score of 92 over 36 holes.
Chinese pop star Sun Nan and
Greek professional Liebelei Lawrence finished close runners up with
a total of 91 points and celebrated Chinese movie director, He Ping
and Rich Beem finished third with 89
points.
Matt Kuchar's scintillating
second round 66 earned him a total of 84 points and subsequently
wrapped up victory in the professional individual competition,
finishing four points clear of runner up Sam Dyson and six points clear of Anthony Wall in third place.
Meanwhile renowned Chinese actor, Wang Zhiwen, emerged as the
winner of the celebrity individual stableford shooting an
impressive thirteen shots under his handicap to amass an 85 point
total.
The winners were honoured at the official prize giving ceremony
on the 18th green of the championship Blackstone Course. Crowds gathered to watch
Matt Kuchar, Andy Garcia and Wang Zhiwen lift their exquisite
Waterford crystal trophies.
After beating off competition from a strong international field
to claim the winner's cheque of USD
240,000, Kuchar said: "When I got the invite to the World
Celebrity Pro-Am, I was so excited, I couldn't wait to get back
here to one of my favourite places in the world and I'm delighted
to have won."
His playing American partner and star of the 'The Godfather'
said: "It's been great, this is my first time in Asia and it's been a beautiful experience. I
had an extraordinary playing partner and I'm very proud of the
trophy. The beautiful thing about these tournaments is that it's
great to compete and win but it's more about the memories and
relationships you create."
Wang Zhiwen was awarded with a lifetime honouree membership at
Mission Hills. Commenting on his
success, the award winning actor said: "Being one of the players
for both the 2010 Mission Hills Star Trophy and the 2012 World
Celebrity Pro-Am, I feel very happy and excited. I will come back
for sure, whether I am invited or not!"
In addition to the individual and team accolades, a prize was
also awarded for Best Dressed on the golf course which was won by
Hong Kong actor Michael Miu.
Among the star studded competitors was Michael Phelps, the
most successful Olympian of all time. The American swimming legend
finished with a respectable 78 points and said: "It's been great. I
love coming to Asia. I was able to
achieve the biggest dream I ever had in China and flying through Beijing and coming here brought back so many
great memories."
The 2012 WCPA brings together international stars from the world
of film, music and sport to raise money to support the ongoing work
of two charities, the Yao Ming Foundation and UNICEF. The
tournament is destined to return to Mission Hills in 2014 with a new line up of
A-list celebrities and elite golfers.
For more information please visit: www.missionhillswcpa.com
ftp://ftp.missionhillswcpa.com
user name：wcpa
password：wcpa123
Mission Hill World Celebrity Pro-Am Press Conference Sound
Bites: 21 Oct. 12
Andy Garcia
Q: May I ask how long you've been playing golf?
A: I've been playing since 1985 – 27 years. But in those 27
years I've never played as well as Mr Wang. I'd also like to thank
him those kid words he's just said about me. He has a well deserved
award. Congratulations
I also know he's a great actor and a great golfer but I wouldn't
trade him for Matt Kuchar
Q: How do you find the difference between movie action and golf
action?
A: As an actor I'm much more comfortable and make far less
mistakes. But the feeling of hitting a golf shot that you
visualise, and when you execute to the exact visualisation that you
thought of is a very sublime experience and brings all golf lovers
back to what we love about the game. That experience and the
exhilaration of that execution gives you a high as much as anything
I've experienced as an actor.
And you might only have that feeling one time in an entire round
but it brings you back to the next time.
Q: How does this compare to other Pro-Ams?
A: In 1997 it was the second year I played in the Pebble Beach
Pro-Am and I won the tournament with Paul
Stankowski, we still have the record 43 under par and since
1997 I've only made the cut one time. That's the only tournament
I've ever won before this so I'm very proud of the trophy and the
beautiful thing about these tournaments, is that it's great to
compete and win but it's more about the memories and relationships
you create. Winning isn't everything, sometimes the golf gods smile
upon you but that's not what's important, what is important is
having the chance to play with new people and meet Matt and his
family. At the end of the day, when you look up and close your eyes
you have these memories.
[On playing with Matt Kuchar]
Just watching Matt play is a master class. I learnt by
watching people play, asking questions, trying to emulate their
technique and style.
Matt Kuchar
Q: You've now won both the World Cup and the Mission Hills World
Celebrity Pro-Am – how does that feel?
A: I must say, last year when I was here for the World Cup I
remember walking up and down the corridors and seeing all the
pictures for the then Star Trophy and thinking how much fun that
looked like and what a great event that would be to be part of and
when I got the email from Tenniel earlier this year inviting me to
be part of the WCPA I was so excited. I couldn't wait to get back
here – to one of my favourite places in the world. Of course I
responded 'yes' right away and this year we've brought the whole
family – last year it was just my wife and I. We had a spectacular
time and looked around and wished the kids had come because what an
amazing facility this is for the whole family. My kids have had
such a great time as well as my wife and I. It's a special
place.
Q: How do you like the difference between the team game and the
individual game:
A: I like having a partner like Andy
Garcia. We teamed up really well and if I was struggling he
was playing great golf. One of the amazing things and cool for me
to see is a guy that's not a pro golfer a good golfer but we got
under a few pressure situations and to see a guy come through it's
not often that a guy from a different path in life can experience
what a profession athlete experiences.
We are 5 points behind with 2 holes to go. We need to make 2
birdies. 2 pars would make 4 points and we'd lose by 1; 1 birdie we
tie and 2 birdies we win. The 17th hole he had 8 feet
for a net birdie. He had to make it if we wanted to win the
championship. He made it and then he hit 3 fantastic shots to have
a tap in birdie on the last hole. It's amazing to see a guy come
through like that. It was fun to see.
Ryan Reynolds
Q: Impressions of the tournament:
A: I had an amazing time, I learned so much; these tournaments,
they're a lot like relationships - you gotta stick with them
because you have good days and bad days. I had a few bad ones but
I'm just learning. That was the third time in my life today that
I've ever been on a golf course and I got to play with Michael Campbell so it's been great. (Added that
it's his first time in China)
About Mission Hills Group
Mission Hills Group (www.missionhillschina.com), owner and
operator of Mission Hills in the
heart of the Pearl River Delta and the tropical island of
Hainan, is the pioneer in
China's fledgling hospitality,
sports and leisure industry.
Founded in 1992, Mission Hills
is recognized as the leading golf brand in the world and synonymous
with high-end, luxurious and exquisitely-designed residences.
Mission Hills has been the major
driving force behind the sports and leisure industry in
China. Its three world-class
integrated leisure and wellness resort destinations have hosted
more than 100 international tournaments. Mission Hills has also been accredited the
"World's Largest Golf Club" by the Guinness World Records.
Mission Hills' properties
sprawl over 40 sq.km. They include 22 championship courses designed
by renowned players and architects from five continents, five-star
resorts, award-winning spas and volcanic mineral springs, an
international convention center, golf academies and Asia's largest tennis facility. Mission Hills is also the official training
headquarters of China's Tennis and
Golf Associations.
The Group's "golf and more" leisure philosophy has catalyzed its
tourism-related business expansion. Mission Hills Centreville and
Mission Hills ▪ Lan Kwai Fong ▪
Haikou are family-friendly
metropolitan leisure complexes and low-carbon town centers. Hubs
for business, leisure, wellness and entertainment, their highlights
include 1,000-plus international anchor brands featuring the latest
fashion labels, finest jewelry and watches; trendiest restaurants,
cafes and bars; state-of-the-art multiplex cinemas; ice skating
rinks; bowling alleys; world-renowned auto showrooms; and many
other exciting offerings. A total of six hotels are showcased in
these developments, among them Marriott International's
Ritz-Carlton and Renaissance hotel brands.
Today, Mission Hills Group has achieved many milestones and
become the preeminent conglomerate in the sports, tourism, leisure
and entertainment industry. The next breakthrough in the Group's
evolution will occur as it brings its tried and true branding and
golf management services to Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Yunnan,
Chongqing and other
destinations.
For further information, please contact:
Ms. Sundi Shi
Mission Hills China
Telephone: (86 755) 2802 0888 Ext. 36022
Email:
sundishi@missionhillschina.com
SOURCE Mission Hills Group