Stars aim to stay on the money in Shanghai

As the China LPGA Tour returns from its summer break, much is at stake this week when the FILA GOLF Women's Classic tees off on Friday at the Yangtze Links Course at PGA Golf Club Anying.

In addition to valuable world ranking points and the 1.2 million yuan ($168,438) prize purse on offer at the Chongming Island venue, everyone in the 132-player field will be aiming to move up the Order of Merit in a bid to gain entry into one of two big events set to hit China next month.

The $1 million Aramco Team Series, sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour, tees off the penultimate event of its five-tournament global series at Mission Hills Golf Club Shenzhen on Oct 4. The field features teams of four comprising three professionals and one amateur. The top 17 players on the CLPGA Tour money list after this week will be given an exemption into the tournament.

With the US LPGA Tour making its annual stop at Qizhong Garden Golf Club for the $2.2 million Buick LPGA Shanghai starting Oct 10, the China Golf Association has 15 spots available for the championship with about six places to be decided by the results of this week's event.

Sitting in the driver's seat is Pang Runzhi, the current Order of Merit leader with 295,505 yuan. The rookie pro vaulted to the top of the money list on the strength of a memorable run of tournaments in June, when she won the Singapore Ladies Masters, finished third at the Reignwood CLPGA Classic and tied for fifth at the Golf Liquor Guangdong Women's Open.

The 17-year-old is returning to competitive golf after a leisurely summer, during which she traveled to Xizang autonomous region with her mother.

"It is a good place for vacation. It's scenic and far away from the bustling city where I live. I felt good and peaceful over there and had a good time. But, I felt rusty after the 10-day vacation. I felt uncomfortable with my swing. I need some time to recover, but I have seen some good signs on the driving range," said the Tianjin teenager.

"But, it's wonderful to have more big events over the second half of the year — this among them. The purse is the highest of these regular events, which inspires you to chase the trophy. But, I don't want to put more pressure on myself. I am leading the money list. The Order of Merit is a good honor. I will try my best."

Looking to overtake Pang this week is Cai Danlin. With a winner's purse of 180,000 yuan, the 21-year-old Hainan native could move to the top of the money list if she manages to win a maiden pro title.

She comes into the Shanghai tournament after successfully passing the second stage of the Japan LPGA Pro Test

"The greens are large with plenty of sloping sections. The weather is another factor. My track record is not great, but I am more experienced," said Cai, who sits second on the Order with 116,646 yuan, with her best result being runner-up in Singapore.

"My main goal is a JLPGA card for the second half of the year. I've been working hard for it.

"This is my sponsor's event. FILA has rooted for me for a long time. Now it's time for me to pay them back. I had some nice finishes this year. I was close in Singapore. I need to step on the gas and get a breakthrough win," Cai said.

Looking to spoil the party of her younger competition is Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong. The Thai veteran won last year's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Championship on the same course, when the club was known as Lanhai International Golf Club.

The club features two championship layouts that were designed by the legendary Jack Nicklaus and his son, Jack Jr, in 2011. The courses were "reworked" by the design team of Michael Clayton, Michael Cocking, Ashley Mead and former US Open winner Geoff Ogilvy in 2018.

"This golf course is really good. I think it is more soft than last time because of the rain," said Sherman, who played the first half of the year in South Korea, where she made only three cuts in 10 events.

" (Korea) doesn't really suit me, so I decided to come back here and play the rest of the events on the CLPGA Tour this year.

"There are good memories here, from seeing my picture in the clubhouse (from winning last year), or even from playing on the course today. I can remember where I played, how I played. I just don't want to pressure myself this week, just have fun."

This week's field features 132 players from 11 countries and regions, 12 of whom gained entry through the Monday qualifier.

As the newest member of the China LPGA Tour, the addition of the Shanghai event not only marks a fresh start for the second half of the 2024 season, but also provides another competitive platform for golfers to sharpen their skills.

"For professional golfers, age means nothing but numbers. Once they step on the course, anyone has a chance," said China's former world No 1 golfer Feng Shanshan, also the promotional ambassador of the China LPGA Tour.

"What matters is the process to perfection."

Li Junfeng contributed to this story.