Hai Phong, Vietnam: The successful staging of the 30th edition of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Team Championship and the remarkable triumph of the host nation is the latest evidence of Vietnam’s emergence as a force in the global game.
The unexpected victory of the Vietnamese teenagers Nguyen Anh Minh, Le Khanh Hung and Ho Anh Huy in last week's Nomura Cup sparked euphoric scenes at the Vinpearl Hai Phong venue among Vietnamese officials and golf fans.
As well as proving that Vietnam is producing top-quality players, the Vietnam Golf Association’s (VGA) organisation of the tournament and the provision of live streaming for the final two rounds received praise from all 19 competing nations.
VGA Secretary-General Vu Nguyen, a member of the only previous Vietnam team to compete in the Nomura Cup in Thailand in 2013, said: “We are still learning. This win is an important moment for golf in Vietnam and will help us to continue to promote and develop the game in the country.”
Vu said the Nomura Cup victory ranked alongside Khanh Hung’s individual gold medal-winning performance at the 2023 Southeast (SEA) Asian Games as the finest and most significant achievement in Vietnam’s golfing history.
“We look forward to introducing the game to more youngsters and also to hosting more tournaments,” added Vu, referencing the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific, which will be staged at Hoiana Shores Golf Club on Vietnam’s Central Coast next March, featuring the finest female amateurs in the Asia-Pacific region.
VGA Director Bach Cuong Khang, the Nomura Cup Tournament Director, added: “The golf scene in our country is still in its early stages, and everything is quite new.
“However, we have clearly identified the core issues. A developed golf landscape requires a comprehensive development strategy, not only focusing on cultivating skilled golfers but also investing in various other areas, such as training coaches, developing junior golf, managing regulations and especially organising and conducting tournaments.
“Therefore, the Nomura Cup was an important opportunity for us to demonstrate our ability to host tournaments in Vietnam.”
