Strength in the Storm – Composure Through 7,200 Yards of Wind and Rain

As the first cold front of the season swept through Thanh Lanh Valley Golf & Resort, persistent rain and biting wind turned the 36-hole event into a true test of skill and resilience. In those testing moments, Hồ Khắc Luận — born in 1983, calm yet resolute — wrote a new chapter in Vietnam’s golf history, claiming the championship with a total score of +1 over two rounds.

After an opening round of 74 (+2), Luận trailed leaders Nguyễn Hữu Quyết and Đinh Song Hài by three strokes. But in golf, gaps are made to be closed. Starting the second round, he displayed steely focus, scoring two birdies and one bogey in the first nine holes to narrow the deficit to a single shot.

A birdie on hole 11 brought him level with Quyết, who answered with a birdie on hole 10 — setting up a tense duel down the stretch. The cold rain and headwind across the long fairways tested every golfer’s technical and mental endurance. While others faltered, Luận stayed composed, controlling club speed and ball flight with precision.

The turning point came at hole 13, when Nguyễn Hữu Quyết suffered a double bogey after an unfortunate shank from the fairway. From there, Luận seized the lead. Despite a costly three-putt on hole 15, he remained steady until the end, closing with a 71 (-1) — the only under-par round of the day — to finish with a total of 145 (+1) and secure victory through sheer concentration, perseverance, and professionalism.

A historic moment for The Golfers Tournament

Hồ Khắc Luận’s triumph carried meaning far beyond a trophy. In the inaugural edition of The Golfers Tournament — featuring 72 of Vietnam’s top professional and single-handicap amateur golfers — he established himself with a stellar performance. This victory also marked his first professional title.

Australian golfer Joel Troy, the reigning VGA Tour Championship winner at the same venue, finished runner-up at +2, one shot behind the champion. Nguyễn Hữu Quyết placed third at +3 after leading most of the first round, while Park Sang Ho and Đỗ Quang Khánh tied for fourth at +4, with Đỗ Quang Khánh also taking the Best Amateur title.

When Hồ Khắc Luận lifted The Keeper of Greatness trophy — adorned with 36 lotus petals symbolizing purity and endurance — the gala hall erupted in emotion. Applause from fellow golfers, colleagues, and sponsors filled the air, embodying the tournament’s spirit of “Continuing the History – Spreading Vietnamese Golf.”

From Fairways to Economic Forums – Golf as a Driver of Growth

Alongside the tournament, the “From Fairway to Growth” forum, co-hosted by GolfEdit and The Golfers, attracted industry experts, investors, course operators, and business leaders. Reports presented at the forum highlighted golf’s dual identity — both as an elite sport and as a green industry that creates jobs and stimulates local economies.

According to the data shared, an 18-hole golf course in Vietnam can generate 250–400 direct jobs and annual revenues of 100–350 billion VND, while fostering growth in tourism, hospitality, education, and infrastructure.

The forum also outlined a vision for sustainable golf development: promoting public-private partnerships (PPP), applying data-driven technology (Foresight systems, AI swing analysis), and integrating junior golf education into school curricula.

From School to Green – Golf Reaches the Next Generation

Running parallel to the forum was the “From School to Green” initiative, featuring students from Tô Vĩnh Diện Primary School and the Academy of Finance — two institutions pioneering golf education in Vietnam. The program invited students, teachers, and young athletes to experience golf alongside professional coaches at Thanh Lanh Valley Golf & Resort.

This initiative represents more than outreach — it is a long-term vision to integrate golf into youth education, helping young learners develop focus, strategy, and sportsmanship from an early age. It also serves as a bridge connecting education, business, and sport under the broader vision of “Golf for Development.”

Spreading Compassion – Birdie for Huế

A heartfelt highlight of the event was the “Birdie for Huế” charity campaign. Each birdie scored during the tournament translated into a donation to support flood-affected communities in central Vietnam. Players, sponsors, and spectators united in turning every putt into an act of kindness — reflecting the humanitarian values that define The Golfers Tournament.

The Golfers Tournament 2025 concluded with Hồ Khắc Luận’s well-deserved victory — a testament to composure and resilience under the toughest conditions. Yet beyond competition, the event marked the beginning of a broader mission: to amplify Vietnamese golf’s presence on the global stage.

As soft music filled the Gala night on October 31, with Lê Hiếu performing “In the Clubhouse” beneath warm golden lights, one could feel that The Golfers Tournament had become more than a sporting event — it had become a cultural space, where golf symbolizes connection, progress, and national aspiration.

“The Golfers Tournament – Continuing the History, Spreading Vietnamese Golf.”