China Open continues to nurture domestic talent

For Lin, who has taken a temporary leave of absence from the LPGA Tour for the arrival of her first child, the Women's China Open was both a launch pad and a personal milestone. She became the first Chinese golfer to lift the trophy in 2019, an achievement she cherishes as much as her achievements abroad, which include a podium finish at the Paris Olympic Games last summer.

"That achievement will always hold a special place in my heart, and I am proud to have contributed to the growth of our country's golfing history," said the 29-year-old Lin, who owns seven CLPG Tour victories. "From the time I began competing, the Women's China Open stood out as one of the most important tournaments on the calendar. It inspired me to push harder and strive for excellence. Like all great national Opens, it has played a pivotal role in developing women's golf, providing a stage for Chinese players to challenge themselves."

That sense of higher standards and bigger dreams has carried into the new generation. The 23-year-old Yin, who has already captured a major championship and the world No 1 ranking, treasures her formative experiences at the Women's China Open, where she finished tied fourth in 2018. "Competing in the Women's China Open was always special to me," said Yin, who is now ranked world No 7 and a holder of five LPGA victories. "The tournament has a different feel about it and there is extra motivation and pressure to perform well. As a junior golfer then, I understood what the event meant to us, and, looking back, those experiences have been meaningful in my journey as a golfer."

From the inaugural edition in Xiamen to this year's groundbreaking move to Shanghai where the tournament, which is promoted by Sportfive, will be played at Enhance Anting Golf Club from Oct 17-19, all eyes will be on the next wave of aspiring stars from China and the wider region. The local starlets include a group of amateurs such as 18-year-old Wang Zixuan, 16-year-old Xu Ying and 15-year-old Zhou Shiyuan — all of whom have won on the CLPG Tour this season.

The China LPG Tour has also provided opportunities for aspiring golfers from around the region to cut their professional teeth, with the likes of Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong, Onkanok Soisuwan and Kan Bunnabodee of Thailand, Jocelyn Chee and Ng Jing Xuen of Malaysia, Singapore's Amanda Tan and Patricia Sinolungan of Indonesia benefitting immensely. With Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul rising to world No 1 recently, the importance of women's golf growth across the Asia-Pacific is not lost on many.

The upswing in fortunes is certainly testament to the Women's China Open, which is proving to be an origin of greatness for women's golf in the country, and regionwide.

The writer has formerly led the communications and marketing team for the PGA Tour in APAC and Asian Tour for a combined 25 years.