The World Final of the BMW Golf Cup International was held in Mexico again for the first time in 17 years since 2002. Around 100,000 enthusiastic amateur golfers around the world took part in the tournament series, and for 100 of them, their dream of a unique golfing experience came true. After battling it out in Los Cabos at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, it was Team China who prevailed in the National Team Category, improving on their 2nd runner up position from the previous year’s final in South Africa. At the closing gala dinner, eight-time winner of the European Tour Order of Merit, Colin Montgomerie of Scotland, presented the winners trophies in the individual rankings to players from Germany, China and South Korea.

“The first World Final at Los Cabos since 2002 has been a wonderful event. You can feel just how enthusiastic amateur golfers around the world are about our tournament series. Thank you to all the participants,” said Alexander Wehr, CEO BMW Group Latin America. “Their sporting performance and the way they all got on together created a special atmosphere on what are truly beautiful, but also very demanding, golf courses. This World Final will live long in all our memories.”

The World Final was played on the spectacularly scenic Cabo del Sol Golf Club in Baja. On the Jack Nicklaus designed Ocean Course dubbed the ‘Pebble Beach’ of Baja, and the Tom Weiskopf designed Desert Course that brings sand and the undulations of the mountains into play, the Chinese team dethroned Team Thailand after three rounds with 303 points nett Stableford; Team Thailand were victorious two years running in George, South Africa last year and in Dubai, UAE in 2017, missed out on bagging another win. The Thai team (288) tied for third place with Team United Kingdom this year, with second place going to Team South Korea (290). In all, amateur golfers from 34 nations were represented in the world final of the BMW Golf Cup International.

In individual competition for the ladies, Jisook Kim (South Korea, 112) was a clear winner ahead of second- placed Pornsawan Chansuke (Thailand, 106). In third place was Samatha Hill (United Kingdom, 104). In contrast, there was a heart-stopping finale in the Men’s I category: Three players were tied with 106 points after 54 holes. In the end, Xiaowei Wu (China) emerged as the eventual winner on countback, ahead of fellow countryman Qingquan Yang and James Smith (USA).

Christian Batz of Germany celebrated the clearest victory of the week. Qualifiying for Mexico by the skin of his teeth on the final match play hole back home in the Germany final, he was in a class of his own in Los Cabos in the Men II category. His Stabelford total of 109 points put him well ahead of Soon Tiew Oh of Malaysia and Colin Pickett (United Kingdom, both 99).

“I can only repeat what I have said many times before: this is a fantastic series of tournaments, and I am delighted to have been invited to the World Final. BMW is an important partner to the sport of golf, both at a professional level and at an amateur level,” said Colin Montgomerie. “The World Final is a wonderful event for golf enthusiasts and a fabulous display of what makes this sport so unique. It was an honour for me to be in Los Cabos to join in this festival of golf.”

“Monty”, a member of the “World Golf Hall of Fame” since 2013, provided two highlights of the World Final, when he enthralled the finalists with instructional and strategic tips at a golf clinic and presented the trophies at the gala dinner. As a dazzling end to the World Final, Montgomerie brought out and displayed the legendary Ryder Cup trophy that he won six times as a player and once as captain.

The BMW Golf Cup International world final is not only a golf tournament at a major level, the event is also an unrivalled curated experience away from the golf courses. The world finalists and approximately 220 guests stayed at the exclusive resort Sheraton Grand Los Cabos Hacienda del Mar. Exclusive evening events and a supporting programme, which focussed on the spectacular scenery of Baja California, Mexican culture and the fascinating wildlife of the Gulf of California made the journey to Mexico, as the world final motto declares, a truly ‘Once-In-A-Lifetime’ experience.