LPGA RETURNS TO CHINA FOR FOURTH TOURNAMENT ON THIS YEAR’S ASIAN SWING

The LPGA returns to China for the second time in the last four weeks. The Blue Bay LPGA will feature 81 players competing for a $2.1 million dollar purse at the Jian Lake, Blue Bay Golf Course on Hainan Island, China. This is the fourth of six straight events for the LPGA in Asia this fall. The Blue Bay Golf Course, which is considered to be among the most challenging golf courses on the LPGA Tour, will once again play host to the event for a third consecutive year.

DEFENDING CHAMPION SEI YOUNG KIM RETURNS

Rolex Ranking No. 6 Sei Young Kim returns to Blue Bay after winning last year’s tournament as a rookie. Kim sank a seven-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to finish at 2-under-par (70-72-74-70) and capture a one-shot victory over a trio of players – Stacy Lewis, Kim Kaufman and Candie Kung. It was Kim’s third win in her rookie season.

Since then, Kim added two more wins in 2016 for a total of five career wins. Kim’s Blue Bay win during her rookie year on the LPGA helped her clinch the 2015 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year award. Kim also earned a spot on the Korean women’s golf team for the 2016 Rio Olympics where she placed T25.

At the Reignwood LPGA Classic in China earlier this month, Kim finished 11th.

THE GOLF LANDSCAPE IN CHINA

Women’s golf is said to be gaining more interest in China, in part because of Shanshan Feng’s bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Feng, who is currently ranked 12th in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, has four victories on the LPGA Tour but has acknowledged that her medal-winning performance in Rio has been even more impactful in her home country.

Regarding the impact of her win at Rio, Feng previously said, “So golf, not many people were paying attention to golf. It was because golf wasn’t in the Olympics. We are shown in the same channels as the other sport. And I mean all the Chinese people were actually watching us, [...] And this time I got a bronze medal. Maybe it make more people think golf is more interesting. Maybe - I think there will be more people that will actually start to join the sport. But it’s going to take a little time.”

There are six active LPGA professionals from mainland China: Shanshan Feng, Simin Feng, Yueer Cindy Feng, Xiyu Lin, Jing Yan, and Jiayi Zhou. Jiayi Zhou is the only Rookie from China in the 2016 class, which has 29 members. Zhou hails from Dalian, China.

GOLF’S GLOBAL TOUR

The global influence of the LPGA Tour has been evident throughout the 2016 season. Ten different countries have been represented in the winner’s circle through 28 events this year, with South Korea leading the wins by country (ten wins by seven different players).

Players from across the globe continue to shine on the highest stage. The five LPGA majors this year featured winners from five different countries.

Twelve countries are represented among the 29 Rookies in 2016. Twenty-eight countries are represented among the 127 active international players competing this year. As of this week, 26 tournament wins on the LPGA have been awarded to international players.

This is the 11th week in three months that the top-5 in the Rolex Rankings are held by players from five different countries. March 2015 was the last time this occurred with China and Norway in the top 5 along with New Zealand, South Korea, and the United States.

Rolex Rankings No. 1 Lydia Ko, New Zealand

Rolex Rankings No. 2 Ariya Jutanugarn, Thailand

Rolex Rankings No. 3. In Gee Chun, South Korea

Rolex Rankings No. 4. Lexi Thompson, USA

Rolex Rankings No. 5, Brooke Henderson, Canada

Carlota Ciganda, now No. 23 in the world, was No. 60 in the world a year ago. Ciganda achieved the highest ranking in her career after winning the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship. Three years ago, Ciganda was ranked No. 24 in the world.

RACE TO CME GLOBE ENTERS THE HOME STRETCH

The Race to the CME Globe is entering its home stretch with five 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.

Shanshan Feng stands at 18th (1,551 points) in the Race to the CME, behind Gerina Piller with 1,635 points. Following her win the previous week in Korea, Carlota Ciganda sits at 14th (1,648 points).

QUICK FACTS

October 20 - 23

2016 Blue Bay LPGA

Jian Lake, Blue Bay Golf Course

Hainan, China

Field: 81 players (61 LPGA players)

Format: 72-hole stroke play; no cut

Par: 72

Yardage: 6,778

Purse: $2,100,000

Winner: $315,000

Defending Champion: Sei Young Kim

Race to the CME Globe: 500 Points

TV Times Golf Channel

October 20 2:30 a.m. - 6:30 a.m.

October 21 2:30 a.m. - 6:30 a.m.

October 22 3:00 a.m. - 7:00 a.m.

October 23 3:00 a.m. - 7:00 a.m.

All times listed are Eastern (Hainan is 12 hours ahead)

Sponsor Invitations (4)

Yifan Ji - Amateur

Yani Tseng

Michelle Wie

Jingwen Zhang - Amateur

Past Champions

2015: Sei Young Kim, 70-72-74-70=286 (-2)

2014: Lee-Anne Pace, 67-66-67=200 (-19)

Sei Young Kim Defends and More Storylines from Blue Bay LPGA

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