LPGA plays first event in China
BY Bruce Young | LPGA Tour | 2008 Grand China Air LPGA | Preview | 23 Oct 2008
The LPGA plays its first ever event in China this week when the Grand China Air LPGA event is played at the Haikou West Golf Club on the tourist island of Hainan off the coast of southern China.
The tournament will be played over 54 holes at the Perry Dye designed layout with a field limited to just 63 players and no cut. The total purse will be US$1.8 million.
The LPGA event is the first of three played in Asia over the coming weeks with this tournament followed next week by Hana Bank Kolon Championship in Korea and then the Mizuno Open in Japan.
Suzann Pettersen, who was narrowly beaten last week in Hawaii heads up this week’s field although most local eyes will be on the performance of LPGA Tour rookie, Shanshan Feng, who has been outstanding in her first season not only as a rookie but also as the first lady golfer from China to play the LPGA Tour.
Cristie Kerr, Yani Tseng, last week’s winner Morgan Pressel, and Annika Sorenstam are other leading players in the field although potential winners are not limited to that group with many of the leading Korean golfers lining up.
Australia has Katherine Hull and Lindsey Wright in the field.
