US LPGA rookie Feng Shanshan of China spearheads China's battle against Korea in the Orient China Ladies Open which tips off today in Xiamen in southeast China's Fujian Province.

Feng, who finished second in September's Bell Micro LPGA Classic en route to amassing five top-10 finishes on her debut season in the US, has established herself as the fans' favorite to win back the title at the three-year-old tournament.

Previous years have been overwhelming dominated by the Koreans.

But Feng, who tied for seventh last year, played down her leading lady status after a long and tiring season overseas.

"It's been a long season for me as I never experienced this before," said the 19-year-old. "Actually I haven't been in good form recently and I'm feeling really tired.

"But the Orient China Ladies Open is at least being held on home soil for me and it is one of the few significant ladies golf events in China. That's why I'm (here). I hope I can hold on and play my best golf."

Her first title would be even better, but this might not be the week to see it materialize.

"Some people are expecting me to me to pick up my first trophy as a pro here in Xiamen," she said. "I will not push myself. I am confident, though, that as long as I keep working hard and stay focused my first victory will come soon."

Feng will be joined by compatriots Yang Hongmei and Ye Liying.

Yang, the five-time Ladies Tour winner, finished 14th at last year's Open but is determined to improve.

Ye has also tasted four wins in domestic competitions but her highlight of this year's performance came in October's Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open, where she forced ten-time major winner Annika Sorenstam of Sweden to a playoff showdown but failed to beat the former world No 1.

Another home favorite, Zhang Na, who rose to stardom with five wins in last season's Japanese LPGA, had to withdraw from the tournament due to injury.

Meanwhile, South Korea is without reigning champion Shin Ji-yai but will be boosted by Seo Hee-kyung and Kim Ha-neul. Seo was named runner-up for this year's Korean LPGA Order of Merit.

The $250,000 tournament is China's first national Open Championship and is also the finale for the four-stage China Ladies Tour.

The 2008 tour comprises four stages - Beijing, Qingdao in Shandong province, Wenzhou in Zhejiang province and Wuhan in Hubei province.

(China Daily December 19, 2008)