One of the most iconic events in Asia sharing a special cross-strait bond, the TLPGA and China LPGA co-sanctioned 2017 CTBC Ladies Open will lift its curtain from December 21st to 23rd, featuring an international 108-player field from Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and New Zealand, who will vie for a total NT$5 million purse and a champion prize of NT$1 million. Taiwan’s Teresa Lu (盧曉晴) will hope to extend her fiery form after winning the culminating major event on the Japan LPGA Tour last month and defend her title on the Orient Golf Course in Taoyuan, Taiwan.

Guests of honor from the main sponsor CTBC Bank, the TLPGA and the CLPGA as well as a group of CTBC Bank spokesplayers joined hands and made a symbolic putt in the official tee-off ceremony on Wednesday, sending a golf ball across the “CTBC 51” typography standee, a stance to welcome the fifty-first year of the brand’s history.

CTBC Bank vice president Li said in the press conference, “you’ll always have to ‘believe to achieve’ and the CTBA family is proud to have the addition of some of the most incredible women on the professional golf circuit.” The CTBC Bank has been developing the “Next-Gen Golf” program and supported Tour players by sponsorships and hosting professional events since 2011. The CTBC Ladies Open was first lunched on the 2012 TLPGA Tour.

“The CTBC Bank is delighted to have helped these talented youngsters to believe, and look at what they went on to achieve!” said Li. “The best breakthrough this year belongs to (Feng) Shanshan (馮姍姍), making the No.1 mark and finishing the year with three LPGA Tour victories; and our own Teresa Lu, who has won four titles this year on the Japan LPGA Tour including the season-ending major. Also, let’s not forget about Shi Yuting (石昱婷), the 19-year-old young lady who has already gain a second triumph on the CLPGA Tour. We’re glad to play a role in their rising journeys and to see them help share the ultimate CTBC spirit that is to give back to the society and bring beliefs to more people around the world through the power of sport.”

The sixth edition of the CTBC Ladies Open is the season’s final stage on both the TLPGA and the CLPGA Tour. Past champions returning to the field include Thailand’s Pimpadsorn Sangkagaro (2014), Budsabakorn Sukapan (2015) and Lu (2016). Current CLPGA Tour 2017 Money Leader Saranporn Langkulgasettrin will also be aiming to finish the stellar season on a high.

CTBC Bank ambassadors joining the press room today, Yeh Hsin-Ning (葉欣寧), Lin Tzu-Chi (林子麒), Hsieh Yu-Ling (謝瑀玲), Kuo Ai-Chen (郭艾榛) and Cheng Ssu-Chia (程思嘉), have all put extra motivation in Saturday’s final round in hopes of netting their first win at this tournament.