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China plans to emulate success of Korean women
AFP - Tuesday, May 5
SINGAPORE (AFP) - - South Korean women have taken the golfing world by storm and now China wants a slice of the action.
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Koreans were multiple winners on the US LPGA Tour last season and their production line of hot, new talent shows no signs of slowing down.
Part of their success can be attributed to trailblazers like Se Ri Pak paving the way, proving that Asian women can not only play in the United States but can also do well.
But it is also because they have a strong local tour - the Korea LPGA - that gives youngsters the opportunity to compete week in, week out and cultivate their skills before heading overseas to find fame and fortune.
Now China is getting in on the act, launching the inaugural China LPGA Tour next week with the Beijing Orient Pearl Championship.
It will be the first of seven tournaments this year in seven cities - Beijing, Yantai, Shanghai, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Kashi and Xiamen - with prize money ranging from 50,000 US dollars to 250,000 dollars.
China Golf Association secretary-general Zhang Xiaoning, the man who has distanced himself from the Asian Tour and thrown his hat in the ring with the new OneAsia Tour in the men's game, is optimistic going forward.
"It's a giant step forward for women's golf in China," he told state media.
"The establishment of the China LPGA tour means we now have our own professional tour like the US LPGA, Korea LPGA and Japan LPGA and will provide more competition chances for Chinese female golfers."
The popularity of golf is exploding in China and the potential to find the world's next superstar in a country of over one billion people is huge.
An estimated 300,000 golfers play at least once a week, and around five million tee off at least once every six months, according to officials.
But China only has one player on the US LPGA Tour in Feng Shanshan, who made her professional debut last year and posted five top-10 finishes, including a career-best runner-up at the Bell Micro LPGA Classic.
This is in sharp contrast to South Korea which boosts 47 players, including young talent such as Angela Park, Ji-Eun-Hee and Park Inbee.
Taiwan has five regular US LPGA players while Japan has four and Thailand three. Among other Asian nations, India, Malaysia, and the Philippines have one apiece.
To keep pace with international golf, Zhang said the China LPGA will set up new rankings and order of merit systems.
"An advanced rankings system is the best way to inspire players to play their best golf," he said, adding that the Tour would "seek to nurture stars for the US LPGA".
Feng knows how tough it is for Chinese golfers to establish themselves.
She had a sterling amateur career, winning nine times in China, before switching to the US LPGA, but missed nine cuts in her first 10 events, suggesting she was out of her league.
But she kept at it and found her feet last July by finishing fourth at the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic and the LPGA State Farm Classic in successive weeks.
Now she wants to see more Chinese playing at the elite level.
"I know I'm the first one on the LPGA Tour and everyone who wants to go on the LPGA will focus on me. That's why I want to do well because it will make them more confident," she said.
"I'm just waiting for them. I'm waiting for the second one and the third one. I want more Chinese players to get on the LPGA Tour."
Zuang Ping and Zhang Na are considered China's top prospects and the ones most likely to make the step up and join Feng.
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