Source: HKGA
Nomura Cup looms as next test for Hong Kong, China
The Nomura Cup – or Asia Pacific Amateur Team Championship – is all set for its 30th edition from October 13-15 at the Vinpearl Golf Hai Phong, in Hai Phong, Vietnam and the Hong Kong, China trio of Jeffrey Shen, Alexander Yang and Isaac Lee are ready to return to the fray.
All three were most recently seen in action at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Japan – Shen finishing T13, Yang T16 and Lee T26 – and will again be fronting up against the region’s best at a tournament that dates right back to 1963.
It’s a tournament that has helped launch the careers of some of Asia Pacific’s greats over the decades. Open Championship winner Cameron Smith was part of the winning Australian team in 2011 while a whole host of Asian Tour stars have graced the tournament.
“It’s another great test for our squad and all three players have tried to freshen up after playing the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at the start of the month,” says Golf Association of Hong Kong, China Head Coach Tim Tang.
“These players continue to grow in experience and that’s what will pay off for them in the long term and playing in Vietnam against the region’s best will bring a whole new set of challenges.”
The Nomura Cup was originally staged as a tri-nation tournament – between the Philippines, Japan and Chinese Taipei – but recent editions have featured more than 20 nations and territories.
Japan won the last staging of the tournament – held at the Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club – taking their tally of titles to 10, equal with Australia. That was in 2022, when the Hong Kong, China trio of Leon D’Souza, Lou Tam and Lam finished ninth.
“It’s been a busy year for all our representative squads but all the hard work continues to pay off as Hong Kong, China’s players are not only playing in these major tournaments but they’re playing themselves into contention to win them,” says Tang.
