China's top female golfers look to wrap up a wonderful year of
golf in victorious fashion by taking the title of the year-end
Orient China Ladies Open, which tees off today in Xiamen, southeast
China's Fujian Province.
With Zhang Na taking her JLPGA debut season by storm with five
stage wins and teenager Feng Shanshan surprisingly carding the
qualification into next year's USLPGA tour, the two most popular
local stars now lead a group of the nation's best golfers to battle
for the title, though they'll face strong competitors from South
Korea.
"I am coming here to win," said Zhang, the world No 27. "I spent
most of my time in Japan this year and I hope this tournament on
home soil will be a perfect ending to a wonderful year.
"I know South Korea won last year's tournament and I hope I
could be the first Chinese to pick up the trophy," added Zhang,
whose four wins in the JLPGA tour place her fourth in the overall
prize-money rankings.
The $250,000 Orient China Ladies Open, which was set up last
year, is the country's first national Open Championship and will be
the finale for the four-stage China Ladies Tour.
Zhang's compatriot Feng, 16, is another star to watch. Feng, the
first woman from China to earn a place on the LPGA, finished 11th
at last year's China Ladies Open, the highest place among the
amateurs. Now the same event will be her first appearance since
turning pro.
"I evened the par last year. After a year in the US, I am
confident to have a better result. I cannot wait to compete in my
first game as a professional. A win would be the best gift to
celebrate my turning pro," Feng said.
The teen golfer is also looking forward to challenging
19-year-old South Korean Shin Ji-yai who is currently ranked ninth
in the world.
(China Daily December 14, 2007)
