Thua Thien Hue, Vietnam, Nov 19 — A hole-in-one that won a Mercedes-Benz E200 sedan for a local Vietnamese golfer highlighted the inaugural Laguna Classic played at Laguna Lang Co Golf Club, Vietnam last weekend.
Nguyen Trang Ngoc (pictured below), who came to the event from Haiphong in north Vietnam, took home the car valued at USD100,000 for his par-3 fifth hole ace on the course designed by modern golf legend, Sir Nick Faldo, who hosted the event.
Eighty-six players from throughout Vietnam, Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore participated in the 36-hole stroke-play tournament, after which Sir Nick Faldo presented prizes in a gala ceremony at the Laguna Lang Co resort near Danang, Central Vietnam.
The six-time Major winner (three British Opens and three US Masters), who describes his Laguna Lang Co creation as a “hidden gem”, paid special tribute to the course conditioning and presentation, while the managing director of Laguna Resorts and Hotels, Ravi Chandran, said the par-71 layout could legitimately claim to be “the best in Vietnam”.
No-one who played in the tournament, held in perfect weather, could disagree. Sir Nick, who personally opened the course in March 2013, has maintained close involvement ever since, regularly returning to provide input and advice and ensure its elevated status as one of South East Asia’s best layouts.
Laguna Lang Co was named best new course in Asia at the Asia Pacific Golf Summit in 2013 and will be host course of the Faldo Series grand final in March 2017.
The Faldo Series, now celebrating its ninth year, is a worldwide junior competition for male and female golfers aged 12 to 21 launched by Sir Nick Faldo to identify future champions. It is held in 30 countries in Europe, Asia/Pacific, North and South America and has helped mould Major champions Rory McIlroy and Yani Tseng.
Meanwhile, the net champion of the inaugural Laguna Golf Classic, who won a premium lifetime membership of Laguna L?ng Cô Golf Club and a Banyan Tree hotel, golf and spa holiday package collectively worth US$25,000, was 18-handicapper Mai Dang Khoa.
Other Vietnamese golfers who took second and third places in the net competition were Le Tu Minh (12 handicap) and Pham Thi Thao Loan (22 handicap). All won hotel and spa vouchers valued up to USD5000. The gross winner with a combined score of 150 was 4-handicapper Ha Ngoc Hoang Loc.
Sponsors of the Laguna Golf Classic included Mercedes-Benz, The Macallan scotch whisky, Titleist, Puma, Banyan Tree L?ng Cô, Angsana L?ng Cô and Laguna L?ng Cô Properties.
A Laguna Park townhome valued at USD273,000 was also offered as a hole-in-one prize but was not won.
Ravi Chandran said the success of the inaugural Laguna Classic created a perfect platform for the tournament to be held again next year.
The Laguna Lang Co integrated resort includes private Banyan Tree villas and an Angsana hotel in a delightful tropical jungle setting facing the East Sea.
For further information about Laguna Lang Co resort, visit www.lagunalangco.com
Paul Myers
November 19th, 2015
The article "Hole-in-One Wins Mercedes at Laguna Golf Classic" was originally published on http://www.asiantravelmedia.com/hole-in-one-wins-mercedes-laguna-golf-classic/
