WELCOME HOME FOR LPGA’S CHINESE CONTINGENT
Three of the five LPGA active members from China will tee it up this week with a chance to win in their home country. Shanshan Feng, the top-ranked female player from China, lifted the trophy at the 2013 Reignwood LPGA Classic for her second career LPGA win, becoming the first and only Chinese player to win an LPGA tournament in China.
Just last week, the Republic of Korea’s In Gee Chun broke through for her third career LPGA win in her home country at the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship, only a week after she helped the Republic of Korea capture the 2018 UL International Crown at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea. Earlier this season, both Brooke Henderson (CP Women’s Open) and Georgia Hall (Ricoh Women’s British Open) also emerged victorious in their respective home countries, while Americans Annie Park (ShopRite LPGA Classic) and Marina Alex (Cambia Portland Classic) took home titles in the United States.
Yu Liu, a 2018 rookie, is making her first start in China as an LPGA member this week. Liu said, “It's very exciting for me to be competing in my home country. For the start of the season like playing in all the Asian swing tournaments was a goal of mine, and now that I have that completed, just very happy to be here.”
LPGA PLAYERS FROM CHINA THIS WEEK
- Three of the five LPGA active members from China are competing in the Buick LPGA Shanghai – Shanshan Feng, Xiyu Lin and Yu Liu (Simin Feng and Jing Yan are not in the field)
- Shanshan Feng, 29, is a nine-time LPGA winner and major champion, has seven wins each on the LET and JLPGA and won the bronze medal for women’s golf at the 2016 Rio Olympics
- On November 13, 2018, Feng became the first player from China, male or female, to become No. 1 in the world by reaching the top spot in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings – she held on to the No. 1 ranking for 23 consecutive weeks until April 22, 2018
- Xiyu Lin, 22, was a 2014 LPGA rookie and has seven career top-10 finishes including a career-best fifth place result at the 2015 Blue Bay LPGA
- Lin is a two-time winner on the LET with back-to-back wins at the Sanya Ladies Open in China in 2014 and 2015 – she also has four CLPGA wins and one ALPG title
- Yu Liu, 22, is a 2018 LPGA rookie currently fourth in the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year standings
- Liu has two career top-10 finishes on the LPGA, both this season, including a best-finish of third at the 2018 Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic
RUIXIN LIU LOOKS TO BUILD OFF EPSON SUCCESS
China’s Ruixin Liu won three times on the Epson Tour this season, including the final two events on the schedule, on her way to winning the 2018 Player of the Year award and earning her 2019 LPGA Tour card. Liu will make her second career LPGA start this week before stepping up to the LPGA Tour full time next season.
Thanks to her three wins and six overall top-10 finishes, Liu finished with $124,839 in Epson Tour season earnings in 2018. This week is another chance to build momentum towards next year and establish a new career-best on the LPGA – she finished T73 in her lone LPGA start at the 2017 Blue Bay LPGA.
“It means a lot to me because after 21 tournaments, being able to be the No. 1 on course, it feels really good and gives me momentum to move forward for next year on the LPGA,” Liu said after winning the Epson Tour Championship. “For next year it helps knowing that I can do it here, so now make sure I can do it there.”
CLPGA PLAYERS GET SHOT AT LPGA
20 Chinese players are in the field this week, and 17 of them are non-LPGA members ready to test their talents against the world’s best from the LPGA Tour. 15 of those players earned their way in via the CLPGA, including one amateur, and three, all amateurs, were given sponsor invitations into the event.
The last non-LPGA member winner was Jin Young Ko at the 2017 LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship (10/15/17). The last amateur winner was Lydia Ko at the 2013 CN Canadian Women’s Open (8/25/13).
QUOTABLE
Q. If there is one thing that people should do when they visit China, what would that be?
XIYU LIN: “They should definitely try some sort of the Chinese local food I think. Doesn't have to be particular food, but everything in China. The food is so good.”
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