The eighth annual TLPGA Tour Hitachi Ladies Classic is going to get the new season underway on Friday at the Orient Golf & Country Club. The NT$ 10 million event is the very first pro golf tour event globally and the first to offer any world golf ranking points as well.

Pornanong Phatlum, the three-time defending champion, is returning again to make the Hitachi Ladies Classic her season opener, and hoping to secure her fourth consecutive and, in total, fifth victory at this event. The LPGA member from Thailand headlines an international field of 102 players from six countries, who will be jostling their ways through three rounds, 54 holes stroke play. The winner will be determined on Sunday with a cash prize worth NT$2.5 million.

Phatlum made three top-10 finishes on the LPGA Tour last season. Although her year-end world ranking went down from number 20 to number 38 in 2015, Phatlum was ranked 11th among all players with a 78.94% on fairways hit. The precision in her driver as well as short approaches and putters are her main strengths. Phatlum has been an official LPGA Tour member since 2009.

The strong 25-player Thai contingent will also boast some other champion favorites such as Wichanee Meechai (Yeanger TLPGA Open 2015 winner), Kanphanitnan Muangkhumsakul (Party Golfers’ Open 2014 winner), and Nontaya Srisawang (TLPGA & Royal Open 2014 and 2015 winner).

Japan’s Yoko Maeda, Mami Fukuda, and Hiroko Azuma, ranked 28th, 42nd, and 56th respectively on the JLPGA Tour, are considered legitimate title contenders. Maeda captured her second career title last July at the Samantha Thavasa Girls Collection Ladies Tournament, while Fukuda and Azuma finished in the top-10 four and three times each during the 2015 season.

17 year-old Chinese teen star Shi Yuting (石昱婷), who came through the 2016 Qualifying Tournament as the top finisher in December, will make her first foray as an official member on the Taiwan LPGA Tour this week.

Shi became the first Chinese player to have full TLPGA Tour membership when she finished runner-up at the 2015 TLPGA Open. 2015 CTBC Shanghai Ladies Classic champion Michelle Koh is also returning and seeking another success in this season opening major event.

The biggest hopes for local fans will include home course talent, 18-year-old Cheng Ssu-Chia (程思嘉). Cheng played twelve tournaments on the Ladies European Tour in 2015, earning three top-10 finishes under her belt and sitting at number 13 on the LET’s 2015 Order of Merit. The Xiamen Open 2015 runner-up entered the LPGA Qualifying School final stage as well and finished in a tie for 36th, which will put her on the top alternates list in LPGA Tour events in 2016.

LPGA Tour sophomores Hsu Wei-Ling (徐薇淩) and Lee Min (李旻) are also looking to delight home crowds with a good showing at the Orient Golf & Country Club. Both finished in the top 70 on the LPGA 2015 Official Money List and will hope to get 2016 started with a victory.

Phoebe Yao (姚宣榆), crowned at the year-ending 2015 TLPGA Open, is in an attempt to win back-to-back TLPGT tournaments. The JLPGA Tour member recorded three top-10 finishes during the 2015 season and finished 45th on the money list, which entitles another tour card for her in 2016. Her best outing was a T4 at the Daito Kentaku Eheyanet Ladies, but she capped off the season with a victory finally back home at the TLPGA Open. Tsai Pei-Ying (蔡佩穎), who also won back a full membership in Japan for 2016, is also looking to secure the title on home soil. Tsai held one title last year on the China’s Tour.

Other local players to watch include 2015 TLPGA Tour Money List winner Kuo Ai-Chen (郭艾榛), last year’s runner-up Chen Meng-Chu (陳孟竺), and tour titlists Babe Liu (劉依貞), Shih Huei-Ju (石惠如), Liang Yi-Ling (梁宜羚), Chen I-Wen (陳依妏), and Lu Ya-Huei (呂雅惠).

This year the Hitachi Ladies Classic marks its eighth edition, and is staged as the season-opening event on the TLPGA Tour for the third straight year. The purse has been increased to NT$ 10 million since 2013 from NT$4 million in its inception year.

“Taiwan was the eighth and last qualifying team in the inaugural LPGA International Crown in 2014, but here we have, as of the latest rankings, improved as the fourth best nation around the world, thanks to an all-around elevation of the Tour and our women’s golf overall,” said Liu Yi-Chen, the TLPGA chairwoman. “We have now a total 113 members, with 43 players holding professional world rankings, and there are also 10 amazing golfers from Taiwan striving for success on the highest level international tours; all numbers are record high in history. I feel truly happy for our players and hope to see them continue to shine on global scenes.”

The backdrop of this week’s tournament, the Orient Golf & Country Club, is designed by American Ronald Fream. At 6,325 yards for this year, the course fascinates with its challenging, creative features and one of the finest grasses for the greens – Tiffeagle. Annual proceeds from the tournament and an equal bonus from Hitachi Ltd. and Taiwan Hitachi Co., Ltd. will be used to endow local charities. Over the last seven years, the tournament has raised donation exceeding NT$30 million.

Book your tickets now at http://www.ticket.com.tw/dm.asp?P1=7000000410 .
For more information on the 2015 Hitachi Ladies Classic, please visit the tournament website at http://www.taiwan-hitachi.com.tw/