A Truly International Golf Tournament

Issued: 14 April 2008

As part of the 2008 Tartan Day Scotland celebrations, 60 golfers from all over the world have been competing in an international golf tournament across four of Scotland's top courses.

The prestigious Tartan Day Scotland International Golf Challenge was played    on courses at Montrose, Carnoustie, Gleneagles and St Andrews, with competitors travelling from the USA, Canada, China and South Africa, as well as across the United Kingdom.

"This event has been a fantastic success," said Provost Ruth Leslie   Melville at the tournament's prizegiving ceremony on Friday. "The 60 competitors who have obviously enjoyed a week of super golf will be returning home with wonderful memories of their Carnoustie Country experiences and many have plans to return with their families."

The tournament prizes were awarded at a gala dinner at Carnoustie Golf Hotel, which provided a fitting finale to the golfers' week of golf and entertainment, including a grand banquet at Glamis Castle and a highly enjoyable Scottish night, complete with local fayre, music, dancing and song,

"Taking part in this tournament far surpassed my party's high expectations," said Irish born Ed Donovan from the USA, who was with fellow golfers from Atlanta, Georgia. "We're already planning our trip to the 2009 Tartan Day Scotland International Golf Challenge, when we're hoping to bring even more golfers from Atlanta with us."

Playing on world-famous courses such as Carnoustie Championship, venue of the 2007 Open, the Montrose Medal – an Open Qualifier, St Andrews Old Course and the King's Course at Gleneagles, the golfers certainly experienced the very best of Scottish golf – and the very best of Scottish hospitality.

Alan Feeley, who had travelled from Canada to compete in the tournament, revealed that, after dinner at GlamisCastle, the golfers were entranced to hear the sounds of the Blair Athol Pipe beating the retreat down the castle drive. "From out of the darkness, a pipe band appeared," he recalled. "I will never forget that moment."

Denise Walker from South Africa really enjoyed competing in the tournament but revealed that she had an ulterior motive for taking part. "We're going to be holding our own Tartan Day Golf Challenge at one of South Africa's top courses next year," said Denise, who revealed that she's going to research her family tree when she returns home to South Africa to find out if she has any ancestral links to Scotland. "The winners of our tournament will come to Scotland to play in the 2009 Tartan Day Scotland International Golf Challenge – and I'll definitely be coming too!"

Over half of the competitors were from China. "We want Angus to be the first choice destination for Chinese travellers," explained Cllr David May, Convenor of Angus Council's Infrastructure Services. "Judging by the comments made by the Chinese competitors in the tournament, they will all be returning home with glowing reports of the Carnoustie Country courses, the wonderful scenery and, of course, the Angus people."

Phoenix TV filmed the week's events and Managing Director Dr Wen-Guang Shao explained that the resulting documentary would be seen in over 225 million homes in China and the rest of the world. "This will be a fantastic shop window for the area and should encourage people in China to visit Angus, whether for a golfing holiday or a family holiday," said Councillor May.

Chinese competitor Jack Huang, General Manager of Shanghai Silport that has a Sister Links Agreement with Carnoustie Championship, was certainly impressed by Carnoustie Country. "It was wonderful to play in the home of golf," said Jack. "This is the second time I've played in the Tartan Day Scotland International Golf Challenge and I'm already looking forward to next year. And, although I really enjoy the golf, for me, the most important part of the tournament is meeting new people and seeing old friends. "

In recognition of the warm welcome they received during their visit to Carnoustie Country, the competitors all wore tartan on the last night of their stay, with almost all of the men wearing kilts.

"The competitors embraced the concept of Tartan Day and it was wonderful to see so many of them wearing kilts," said Councillor May

The 2008 Tartan Day Scotland International Golf Challenge was won by Mr Zijiang Yang, who returned home to China with the coveted golden putter.

"Following the closest competition we've ever had, Zijiang clinched the tournament thanks to a phenomenal score at St Andrews, however congratulations must also go to the other golfers from each participating country who took the individual awards" explained Councillor Bob Myles, Leader of Angus Council, who presented the prizes.

"This tournament has been such a success, it looks as though the 2009 tournament will have even more competitors," said Councillor Myles. "All over the world, the golfers who competed in the 2008 Tartan Day Scotland International Golf Challenge will be enthusing about the wonders of the courses they played on, the places they went and the people they met, which can only be good news for Carnoustie Country, Angus and Scotland."