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Well-known names from the world of golf have gathered for the inaugural World Ladies Championships (WLC) taking place at the Vintage Course in Mission Hills Haikou in Hainan, southern China this week.
The event has attracted 108 golfers from 25 different countries, who will be competing not only for the individual title in their professional or amateur category, but also for the prestigious team prize.
The week will tee off with two Pro Ams on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by an official opening welcome ceremony on Thursday evening, where a number of VIPs and guests are expected.
The tournament will then tee off over three rounds from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 March, with three separate categories being played simultaneously, with an individual professional stroke play, individual amateur stroke play and professional team stroke play event.
Format of play for the individual professional and amateur events is 54 holes stroke play. A cut will be made following 36 holes to the top 50 professionals and ties.
Players who are part of the team event but miss the cut in the individual event must play the final round on Sunday to be eligible for the team competition however such players will not be eligible for the individual prize fund and will be playing for the team purse only. There will also be three separate fashion awards for the trendiest/best-dressed player in each category.
The professional players will compete for a prize fund of 500,000 USD, with an additional 100,000 USD prize fund to be shared amongst the 20 teams, which include two from China and one from each of Australia, Chinese Taipei, England, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Korea, Netherlands, Norway, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, the United States and Wales.
The line-up of entrants includes top-ranked Chinese professional Shan Shan Feng, who will team up with Liying Ye and the LET’s first member from China, Yuyang Zhang, who will partner Jiayun Li.
Other well-known competitors are Melissa Reid and Florentyna Parker, representing England, Diana Luna and Giulia Sergas, who will pair up for Italy; Linda Wessberg and Pernilla Lindberg of Sweden; Lee-Anne Pace and Ashleigh Simon of South Africa, Nikki Garrett and Frances Bondad of Australia, Caroline Masson and Anja Monke of Germany and Beth Allen and Hannah Jun from the United States.
The competition will put Mission Hills under the global spotlight again, after the resort hosted the World Cup of Golf in November 2011, when Matt Kuchar and Gary Woodland of the United States won the event on the Blackstone Course. The event attracted 100,000 spectators, 500 national and overseas media and live broadcasts from press from 150 regions.
The resort also hosted the Star Trophy 2010, which featured a cast of the world’s most famous celebrities including Laura Davies, Michael Phelps and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
For the full list of entries click here
About Mission Hills Group
Mission Hills Group (www.missionhillschina.com), owner and operator of Mission Hills Shenzhen, Mission Hills Dongguan and Mission Hills Hainan, is the pioneer in China’s fledgling hospitality, sports and leisure industry.
Mission Hills recognized as the leading golf brand in the world and synonymous with high-end, luxurious residences of rare and exquisite design, has created two world-class leisure and wellness resorts. It has held more than 100 international tournaments, including the 1995 World Cup of Golf and the Tiger Woods China Challenge in 2001. In 2007, Mission Hills began its role as host of an unprecedented 12 editions of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup.
Mission Hills Hainan
Mission Hills Hainan lies in the volcanic region of exotic Hainan Island, China. The resort sets a new standard in leisure, recreation and wellness experiences. Nestled amid lush, green gardens, it caters to golf enthusiasts and features 10 acclaimed golf courses, each designed by American Brian Curley of Schmidt-Curley Design. Other state-of-the-art features include 518 elegantly designed guest rooms and suites, a three-story clubhouse, China’s first Hank Haney Golf Academy, meeting facilities, 12 world-class restaurants, a fully-equipped sports and recreation center, Hainan’s only aquatic theme park, therapeutic volcanic mineral springs, a spa oasis, and shopping arcade.
Mission Hills Hainan’s Blackstone Course hosted the inaugural Mission Hills Star Trophy in October 2010, a ground-breaking celebrity pro-am golf tournament for Asia, and the 56th World Cup of Golf in November 2011. A magnificent addition to Hainan’s tropical island paradise, Mission Hills Hainan is poised to become the island’s premier sanctuary, attracting visitors from around the globe.
Getting There: Mission Hills Hainan is 15 minutes from Haikou Meilan International Airport (HAK). Flights from major cities throughout Asia — including Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore — to Haikou are available.
