This week, the LPGA travels to Reignwood Pine Valley Golf Club in Nankou, Beijing, China for the Reignwood LPGA Classic, starting a swing of six consecutive events in Asia.
Defending champion Mirim Lee (2014) and inaugural winner Shanshan Feng (2013) will both return for the third playing of this event. The tournament was not played in 2015 due to a scheduling conflict.
As a rookie in 2014, Lee (-15) finished with a final round 69 on the par-73 layout to secure a two-shot victory over Caroline Hedwall. It was the second win of her career and is her most recent win to-date.
The field features 81 players including 15 from the CLPGA. Players will tee off of both Holes 1 and 10 throughout the week without any cuts.
The Reignwood LPGA Classic joins the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic (Ocean Club Golf Course) as the only two tournaments in 2016 played on a par-73 design.
WHO’S IN THE FIELD
Past Reignwood LPGA Classic Champions (2):
Mirim Lee (2014), Shanshan Feng (2013)
2016 Major Champions (2):
Brooke Henderson (KPMG Women's PGA Championship), Ariya Jutanugarn (RICOH Women's British Open)
Olympians (14):
Shanshan Feng (China), Brooke Henderson (Canada), Karine Icher (France), Ariya Jutanugarn (Thailand), Sei Young Kim (Korea), Candie Kung (Chinese Taipei), Xi Yu Lin (China), Pernilla Lindberg (Sweden), Caroline Masson (Germany), Haru Nomura (Japan), Su Oh (Australia), Paula Reto (South Africa), Alena Sharp (Canada), Mariajo Uribe (Colombia)
CLPGA Players (15):
Liqing Chen, Muni He (a), Jiayun Li, Wenbo Li (a), Yan Liu, Yu Liu, Yanhong Pan, Yuting Shi, Panpan Yan, Taoli Yang, Ziqi Ye, Jienalin Zhang, Weiwei Zhang, Yunjie Zhang, Jiayi Zhou
Amateurs (4):
Muni He, Yifan Ji, Wenbo Liu, JIngwen Zhang
LPGA NUMBERS TO KNOW
21.52 - Average age of winners in 2016
22 - Thru 25 events, 22 were won by players 23 years old or younger
3 - Three teenagers have won on the LPGA Tour in 2016 (Lydia Ko, Brooke Henderson, Minjee Lee)
7 - In the current Rolex Rankings, seven of the top-10 players in the world are 24 years old or younger
5 - In the current Rolex Rankings, the top-6 players hail from five different countries
9 - Players from nine different countries have won on the LPGA Tour in 2016
2016 LPGA LEADERS
Wins - 5 (Ariya Jutanugarn)
Top-10s - 13-of-19, 68% (Lydia Ko)
Money List - $2,396,202 (Lydia Ko)
Scoring Average - 69.320 (Lydia Ko)
Race to CME Globe - 4,249 points (Lydia Ko)
Rolex Player of the Year - 247 points (Lydia Ko)
Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year - 1,223 points (In Gee Chun)
GOLF'S GLOBAL TOUR
The global influence of the LPGA Tour has been evident throughout the 2016 season. Nine different countries have been represented in the winner's circle through 25 events this year, with South Korea currently leading in wins by country (seven wins by five different players).
Players from across the globe have continued to shine on the highest stage. The five LPGA majors this year featured winners from five different countries. The top-6 in the current Rolex Rankings also boasts players from five different nations.
2016 MAJOR CHAMPIONS| TOURNAMENT | CHAMPION | COUNTRY |
|---|---|---|
| ANA Inspiration | Lydia Ko | New Zealand |
| KPMG Women's PGA Championship | Brooke Henderson | Canada |
| U.S. Women's Open | Brittany Lang | United States |
| RICOH Women's British Open | Ariya Jutanugarn | Thailand |
| The Evian Championship | In Gee Chun | South Korea |
ROLEX RANKINGS TOP-6
| PLAYER | COUNTRY |
|---|---|
| 1. Lydia Ko | New Zealand |
| 2. Ariya Jutanugarn | Thailand |
| 3. In Gee Chun | South Korea |
| 4. Brooke Henderson | Canada |
| 5. Sei Young Kim | South Korea |
| 6. Lexi Thompson | United States |
RACE TO CME GLOBE ENTERS THE HOME STRETCH
The Race to CME Globe is entering its home stretch with 7 events left to decide who will be competing for the $1 million dollar first prize at the CME Group Tour Championship.
The top 72 LPGA Members and those tied for 72nd on the Race to the CME Globe Points Standings, ranked in the order of their position on the standings at the conclusion of the Lorena Ochoa Invitational Presented by Banamex, will have earned their way into field at CME.
Once the players have qualified for the event the points will reset. After the reset, the players in the top-3 positions on the Race to the CME Globe Points Standings will be able to win the Race to the CME Globe with a win at the Tour
Championship. Additionally, the players in the top-9 positions will have a mathematical chance to win the race based on various scenarios.
Lydia Ko (4,249 points) has a narrow lead on Ariya Jutanugarn (4,066 points) for first place through 25 events in 2016. Several notable players currently sit on the outside of the top-72 on the Race to CME Globe standings including Juli Inkster (88), Cheyenne Woods (94), Michelle Wie (115) and Yani Tseng (120).
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