Media Release Successful AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open Pro Am held Domaine de Bel Ombre, Mauritius, May 5, 2015 – Heritage Golf Club played host to a field of 210 professional and amateur players from 33 nations, who eagerly took to the course for the official AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open Pro Am, ahead of the first ever tri-sanctioned golf tournament endorsed by the Sunshine, European and Asian Tours which will tee off on Thursday, 7 May 2015. The Pro Am came after the inaugural AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open tournament was officially declared open at a Welcome Party held at Heritage Awali Golf & Spa Resort in Mauritius last night. Sponsors, business stakeholders and golf enthusiasts from Mauritius had the rare opportunity to play alongside some of the best golfing talent representing the European, Asian and Sunshine tours at the state-of-the-art Peter Matkovich designed course, which was voted by CNN as one of the top 10 golf courses in Africa. Matkovich himself was amongst the invited guests playing in the event today. Amongst the field were some of the biggest names, including big hitting Kiradech Aphibarnrat who recently won his second European Tour title at the Shenzhen International in April 2015 and George Coetzee who also earlier this year won his second European Tour title when he lifted the 2015 Tshwane Open trophy. Also notable in the Pro Am field today was AfrAsia Bank global ambassador Hennie Otto who has won 12 titles on the Sunshine Tour, Thomas Levet and Thomas Bjorn who have both won 12 and 21 professional titles respectively. “The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open Pro Am held today was a good precursor to the tournament which starts on Thursday, and Heritage Golf Club proved its readiness to host what promises to be a spectacular first-ever tri-sanctioned tournament to be held in Mauritius,” said Christophe Curé, President of the Mauritius Golf Federation. Other recognisable pro golfers representing the three participating tours included European Tour players Adilson da Silva and Soren Hansen, alongside Thomas Aiken, Jbe’Kruger, Titch Moore, Justin Walters and Keith Horne from the Sunshine Tour, while the Asian Tour was represented by amongst others, Arjun Atwal, Wang Jeung Hun and Scott Hend who won the Driving Distance category in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013, and is one of the most successful international players on the Asian Tour. “We had a wonderful day on the course and I am pleased to announce that all our departments from the pro shop, to caddies, officials, scorers and hospitality teams managed the day with great aplomb, which speaks to our excitement and readiness to host the professional tournament on Thursday,” said Ryan Dodds, General Manger at the Heritage Golf Club. The Prize Giving Results of the inaugural AfrAsia Bank Mauritian Open Pro Am is as follows: 1st Prize Amateurs and pro’s: Chamarel Rum and a 2 night stay at Heritage Le Telfair and Revo sunglasses: Nick Dougherty (PRO), with Anton de Waal, Amin Jafar, Patrick Pearson, Kevin McNally 2nd Prize Amateurs and pro’s: Chamarel Rum and a 2 night stay at Heritage Awali and Revo sunglasses Andrew Dodt (PRO), Jean Francois Desvaux, Gaston Clarenc, Didier Lenette, Alain Rey 3rd Prize Amateurs: Chamarel Rum and Taylormade putter Pro: Chamarel Rum and Cutter and Buck carrier bag and dinner at Le Chateau Arjun Atwal (PRO), Hendrik Petrus Barnhoorn, Rudi Goorwappa, Rajat Goswamy. Richard Robinso 4th Prize Amateurs and pro’s: travel cover sponsored by Air France Eduardo De La Riva (PRO), Didier Maingard, Daniel Hardy, Remi Desvaux, Clement Rey 5th Prize Amateurs: Taylormade wedge Pro: Cutter and Buck carrier bag and a dinner at Le Chateau Merrick Bremner (PRO), Hamilton Narby, Didier Merven, Michelle Bloch, Nearest the Pin on the 3rd for men Revo Sunglasses Winner: Thierry Bouteil Nearest the Pin on the 13th for men Revo sunglasses Winner: Gerard de Froberville Nearest the Pin on the 8th for men C Beach Club lunch voucher Winner: Anthony Withers Nearest the Pin on the 15th for ladies C Beach Club lunch voucher Winner: Edith Gruchet Longest Drive for LADIES on the 18th C Beach Club lunch voucher Winner: Valerie Espitalier Noel Longest Drive for MEN on the 18th C Beach Club lunch voucher Winner: Timo Geldenhuys -Ends- Issued by, and for further information, please contact: Yolanda Arendse - Tournament Media Officer Acting on behalf of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open Tournament Organizing Committee Email: [email protected], Mobile +27 83 440 2031 Note to Editors The tournament will be played at the Heritage Golf Cub on Domaine de Bel Ombre, voted one of the Top 10 golf courses in Africa, according to global news broadcaster CNN. The course was designed by Peter Matkovich, who has also presided over the construction of 20 top-ranked golf courses on the continent, such as Arabella Golf Club in South Africa, and Borrowdale Brooke Golf Club in Zimbabwe. This 27-hole facility which includes an 18-hole par-72 championship layout and a nine hole short course, is not only set in the middle of stunning natural scenery and dotted with small lakes and streams, but also possesses exceptional infrastructure and services. For more information on the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open: http://afrasiabankmauritiusopen.com/ .