The Volvo China Open, the season finale of the 2021 China Tour, will take place from Dec 16-19 at Shenzhen Genzon Golf Club with a total prize fund of 2 million yuan ($310,000).

This year's tournament was originally scheduled to be staged from Nov 4-7, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic has been switched to December and will not be jointly sanctioned with the European Tour, as it has been in the past.

After careful consideration by all parties, it was also decided that this year's tournament will not be open to international players.

The longest-running professional golf tournament on the Chinese mainland, the Volvo China Open has been staged for 26 consecutive years since its establishment in 1995. As the season finale, it boasts the China Tour's highest total prize pool.

Upon completion of the tournament, the winner of the China Tour money list will be revealed and will receive his/her playing card and full playing rights for the 2021-22 European Tour.

Zhang Xiaoning, chairman of the China Golf Association, said: "This year, given the circumstances of the epidemic prevention and control, the Volvo China Open will be exclusively sanctioned by the China Tour.

"The staging of the tournament plays a major role in improving the competitive level of Chinese golfers, strengthening preparations for the Hangzhou Asian Games, developing golf talent in China, promoting the sport to the public, and underlining the development of the golf industry in China.

"I am very grateful to Volvo for their continued commitment to the sponsorship and support of the China Open during what is a difficult period, and also particularly grateful to the Shenzhen municipal government, Longgang district government, Shenzhen Genzon Golf Club and other partners for their strong support of this tournament."

Michel Zhao, chairperson of the Volvo China Open Board and vice-president of Communications and MarCom, Volvo Car Asia Pacific said: "As the first western brand to introduce international professional golf events to China, Volvo's commitment to Chinese golf has never changed.

"For more than two decades, the Volvo China Open has been held without interruption and has witnessed the growth of generations of Chinese players.

"We are very happy to finalize the new dates for this year's Volvo China Open as the season finale of the 2021 China Tour. We look forward to presenting a wonderful year-end golf tournament to golfers and golf fans alike."

Last year, China's Zhang Huilin became the fifth homegrown winner in the tournament's history, thanks to an emphatic nine-shot victory on his home course at Shenzhen Genzon.

He will be looking to successfully defend his crown at the same venue in December.

"Genzon Golf Club holds a special place in my heart, and the championship I won last year means so much to me," Zhang said. "This year I will do my very best to prepare for the event and strive to defend my title on my home course."

The 2021 Volvo China Open is hosted by the China Golf Association, sponsored by Volvo Cars, promoted and operated by Teamfirst Management Ltd, and sanctioned by the China Tour.

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