Ji wins! China on top in historic tourney

Under bright sunshine at Suzhou Taihu International Golf Club in Jiangsu province, Japan's Miyuki Takeuchi and China's Ji Yuai and Lin Qianhui teed off together in the final round of the Mitsubishi Electric Automation Women's Open on Saturday.

Framed by blooming magnolias and lush greenery, the occasion marked a historic first — players from the CLPG Tour competing against their counterparts from the Ladies Professional Golf Association of Japan (JLPGA).

Eventually Ji, the 2024 CLPG Tour Order of Merit winner, won the co-hosted event with a three-underpar total of 213, securing her fourth career CLPG Tour title. The 20-year-old also claimed a winner's purse of 4.5 million yen ($30,136), but, perhaps more importantly, earned a coveted wildcard entry into the JLPGA Hisako Higuchi Mitsubishi Electric Ladies Golf Tournament in October.

"I'm from Dalian, Liaoning province, which is quite close to Japan, and I've always dreamed of competing on the JLPGA Tour," Ji said. "This opportunity means a lot to me.

"I'm thrilled, but anxious, for my Japan debut. Knowing the strength of Japanese players, I'll need to be at my absolute best."

The 54-hole tournament in Suzhou, held from March 20-22, featured a high-caliber field of 45 players from each tour, along with 18 sponsor invites, and a total prize purse of 25 million yen. It also marked the JLPGA's Chinese mainland debut, bringing a world-class golf spectacle to fans across the region.

Beyond the competition, the event fostered deeper ties between Chinese and Japanese players, underscoring a growing collaboration between the two tours.

During the final round, Ji and her 30-year-old Japanese playing partner, Takeuchi, exchanged simple phrases in Japanese and English — a pleasant surprise for Takeuchi.

Ji, who learned some Japanese from her mother as a child, faced early pressure as Takeuchi delivered a strong front nine. However, a series of mistakes on the back nine saw the Japanese golfer drop crucial shots, earning her a tied 11th-place finish.

"The two Chinese players in my group hit the ball really far — it's a very different style from mine," Takeuchi observed.

Though she visited China as a child, this was her first time competing in a Chinese mainland golf tournament. "The course was professional (standard), and the event was exceptionally well-organized," she said.

Despite some language barriers with her caddie, Takeuchi praised the teamwork. "The atmosphere was great," she noted.

Having played alongside Chinese golfers on the JLPGA Tour before, Takeuchi highlighted a key difference. "They are usually quite tall — I wish I were that tall too," she said with a laugh.

She was also impressed by the local cuisine. "The mapo tofu at the course was incredible. Japan has its own version, but the authentic Chinese one is definitely the best," she said.

Fellow Japanese golfer Rui Hiraoka, the field's best performing Japanese player, finished tied for ninth and was equally taken with the experience.

Hiraoka, who first visited China in early 2020 for the CLPG Tour's qualifying exam, made her official Chinese mainland tournament debut this time.

"The Chinese players I played with hit the ball so far — I really envy that. If I get the chance, I would love to return to compete in China," she said. "Not only are the tournaments here well-run, but the food is also amazing!"

China's former world No 1 Feng Shanshan, an ambassador for the CLPG Tour, sees the collaboration between the two tours as a significant opportunity for Chinese players.

She thinks it offers players early exposure to elite international opponents, using the CLPG Tour as a stepping-stone to the global stage.

A 10-time LPGA Tour champion in the United States, Feng found success in Japan as well, securing seven JLPGA titles during her storied career. She hopes the tournament will serve as a bridge between Chinese and Japanese players, allowing her to offer guidance and support.

Feng emphasized the rapid growth of the CLPG Tour in recent years. "You can see the tremendous progress just by looking at the development of our players," she said.

"This growth is closely tied to the rise of the CLPG Tour. I hope our events continue to improve and produce more Chinese players that can compete on the international stage," she added.

Feng sees the partnership with Japan as a model for future collaborations. "For young players, this exposure is invaluable — it allows them to experience different playing styles and course conditions, helping them determine which tour best suits their development. It also shows them the gap between themselves and the top players, helping them understand how much harder they need to work," she explained.

Long-awaited collaboration

T K Pen, vice-president of the China Golf Association and chairman of the CLPG Tour, has been working toward a partnership with the JLPGA for over a decade. Last week, that vision became a reality.

"Hiromi Kobayashi, chairman of the JLPGA, has long championed golf exchanges between China and Japan. This tournament is a testament to our shared efforts and friendship," Pen said. "As the first jointly sanctioned event between the CLPG Tour and JLPGA, it marks a new era of collaboration in golf development for both countries."

Having observed the JLPGA's growth under Kobayashi's leadership, Pen expressed hope that this partnership with the JLPGA Step Up Tour is just the beginning, with ambitions to extend cooperation to top-tier JLPGA events in the future.

"There is much we can learn from the JLPGA's reforms, especially in integrating data to help players refine their skills more efficiently," he said.

"The CLPG Tour has also undergone major reforms in recent years, producing top players like Yin Ruoning and Zeng Liqi. Our goal is to continue elevating the level of Chinese golfers through these efforts," Pen said.

Beyond competition, Pen emphasized that golf serves as a bridge for cultural exchange, fostering connections among players, sponsors and fans, while also driving local tourism. He noted that co-hosted tournaments not only strengthen ties between China and Japan, but also enhance business cooperation and economic exchange between the two countries.

"This tournament's success would not have been possible without the unwavering support of Mitsubishi Electric Automation," he added.

Zhang Wei, president of Mitsubishi Electric Automation (China) Ltd, said he hopes the event will provide a new platform for international engagement, further integrating global sports culture and injecting fresh energy into the sport's development.

"Through events like this, we aim to showcase the talent and presence of women in golf, contribute to the growth of the women's game and inspire more people to embrace sports, supporting the broader national fitness movement," Zhang said.