International Cast Ready for EFG Hong Kong Ladies Open 2017

China LPGA Tour comes in as a sanctioning body for the very first time

Li Jiayun

HONG KONG, 17 May 2017, (HK Golfer News Wire) - An international cast of talented female golfers will await Tiffany Chan Tsz-ching as she returns to Hong Kong to defend her EFG Hong Kong Ladies Open next month. Taking place at the Hong Kong Golf Club’s Old Course from 9 to 11 June, over 110 players from 17 nations and territories will look to hit peak form that weekend to take away the coveted trophy, Rolex Ranking Points, as well as a big bag of confidence.

With the China LPGA Tour joining the LPGA of Taiwan, and the Ladies Asian Golf Tour for the first time as a sanctioning body, the Greater China contingent is stronger than ever before at the three-day 54-hole championship.

Li Jiayun, who finished in tied-5th last year, will lead a strong group of 15 players from China. Chinese Taipei will have nearly double that number, at 29, with Kuo Ai-Chen, Yeh Hsin-Ning, Hanna Chen, and Chen I-Wen amongst the favourites to feature on Sunday 11 June at the US$150,000 tournament. Tiffany, who has enjoyed an excellent season representing the University of Southern California in her final year of college, will be the overwhelming home favourite, while local seasoned professionals Michelle Sun and Jannet Sheng Qiu-yan will also be looking for a good showing at the third edition of the event.

28-year-old Guangzhou native Li said:

“The EFG Hong Kong Ladies Open is a high quality tournament that I enjoy playing at very much and I am excited to return this year to try and improve on my tied-5th place finish that I achieved last year.”

Kuo, who turned professionals in 2009 and winner of the 2015 Taifong Ladies Open, added:

“The EFG Hong Kong Ladies Open is an excellently run tournament with a great vibe and high quality competitors and this is why I come back every year to compete. With Tiffany in the field after all her achievements in the last 12 months, Hong Kong has so much to be proud of and, I am sure the atmosphere will be electric. I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

Other players from the region to keep an eye on at this year’s championship include Sharmila Nicollet of India, Korea’s Hwang Ye-Nah, Thai player Saranporn Langkulgasettrin. The tournament will also look forward to welcoming golfers the likes of Australia, Brunei, England, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Africa, and Switzerland.

Sharmila Nicollet