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The stage is set for the second edition of the World Ladies Championship which tees off at Mission Hills Haikou on Thursday amidst the tropical palm trees of Hainan in China.
Visitors to the resort, which is located on China’s southern-most island, enjoyed a day of pre-event entertainment with the stars of the game participating in a range of activities both on and off the course and ranges.
With the morning mist lifting just as players teed off for the tournament pro-am, players and fans were able to take a closer look at the Sandbelt Trails course that will play host to the tournament. The course is designed to replicate some of the great courses of the Australian Sandbelt, featuring large bunkers dominated by high flashes and crisp thick lips that rise above the fairways and putting surfaces. Measuring at 6,199 yards, the course offers players maximum width offering players alternative angles from which to attack the green from its sweeping fairways.
In the afternoon, three top players turned coach on the driving range to offer some valuable tips for students of three Chinese golf academies who have come to witness the tournament and take advantage of the facilities on offer. Inbee Park from South Korea, local favorite Shanshan Feng and Norway’s Suzann Pettersen, ranked 4, 5 and 8 on the Rolex World Rankings respectively, provided students of the Mission Hills Haikou Golf Academy, Hainan Provincial Team and Tianjin Golf Academy with chipping and driving tuition in front of a full house of spectators.
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Wednesday evening saw golf meet glamour as the players exchanged sporting attire for cocktail dresses at the Opening Ceremony and Gala Dinner. In addition to the launch of the ‘Best Dressed Player’ award which will run over the four days of competition giving fans the opportunity to vote online for their on-course glamour queen, dinner guests also witnessed a cat-walk fashion show by tournament sponsor FILA who exhibited their latest La Dolce Vita range of men’s and ladies’ golf and sporting apparel and footwear.
Speaking at the opening Ceremony, Vice Chairman of Mission Hills Group, and driving force behind the World Ladies Championship, Tenniel Chu welcomed players, sponsors and officials, “We’re delighted to welcome the international golfing community back to Mission Hills for the second edition of this tournament and for what promises to be a spectacular golf tournament with a first class international field competing for both individual and team honours.”
The World Ladies Championship is designed to showcase and support elite women’s golf in China and across Asia. The tournament features a unique 3-in-1 format consisting of an Individual Professional Competition played over 72-holes of individual stroke-play; a 72 hole Professional Team Competition in which the scores of the top two players from 21 countries represented will be combined to determine the winning team, with China as host nation fielding two teams; and a 72-hole stroke-play Individual Amateur Competition.
To follow and vote for the Best Dressed Player Award see: http://wlc.missionhillschina.com/bestdress
