Golf and squash players have raised almost HK$600,000
Despite the global economic crisis, golfing and squash enthusiasts have generated impressive sums of money for the annual Operation Santa Claus charity drive - raising an estimated HK$591,680 to date.
The UBS Hong Kong Open 2008, a golf tournament held from Thursday to Sunday at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Sheung Shui, raised HK$260,000 as of yesterday, HK$243,000 from UBS itself, and pledges and cash are expected to continue to roll in.
The Wing Ding Squash Tournament, an annual fund-raiser for Operation Santa Claus, was held on November 15, but it generated pledges and cash that continue to be paid to the charity. As of yesterday, it had raised HK$331,689 - a 13.2 per cent increase over last year.
The golfers launched their event last Tuesday with a nearest-to-the-hole competition in Chater Garden, which raised HK$120,000 for Operation Santa Claus.
That was an auspicious start for the UBS Hong Kong Open, which was won by Taiwan's Lin Wen-tang in a dramatic playoff victory on Sunday. He became the first Asian winner of the Open in 10 years. The contest is celebrating its 50th year.
On Friday, Hongkonger Jason Hak Shun-yat, 14, became the youngest player to make the cut - allowing him to play on the two final days - on a European tour event. The contest joined the European Tour in 2002.