Source: China.org.cn
04-30-2009 08:40
China will seek to emulate the success of South Korean women's golfers on the international stage after the China Golf Association (CGA) and Orient Golf Group established the brand-new China LPGA Tour.
The tour's debut season this year will feature at least seven stages in Beijing, Yantai, Shanghai, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Urumqi and Kashi, with a year-ending finale in Xiamen in December.
"It's a giant step forward for women's golf in China," said Zhang Xiaoning, CGA secretary-general.
"The establishment of the China LPGA tour means we now have our own professional tour like the US LPGA, Korea LPGA and Japan LPGA and will provide more competition chances for Chinese female golfers."
To keep apace with international golf, the China LPGA will also set up new rankings and order of merit systems.
"An advanced rankings system is the best way to inspire players to play their best golf," Zhang added.
Korean women have long been a dominating force thanks to their prestigious KLPG tour, where budding stars cultivate their skills before going abroad and challenging the best players in the top-flight tour US LPGA.
"Equivalent to the Korea and Japan LPGAs, the China format will promote the sport at the grassroots and nurture stars for the world's top tour the US LPGA," said Zhang.
TK Pen, owner of Orient Golf, a 10-strong chain of clubs around the Chinese mainland and Chinese Taipei, said the 2009 season will incorporate the four existing Orient Masters Tour events and culminate in the fourth edition of the season-ending China Ladies Open. The five events are seen as a cradle for the new China LPGA tour.
CGA and Orient Golf are optimistic more events will be included on the China LPGA tour this year.
