LPGA to make its Beijing debut in Reignwood Pine Valley

The 2013 Ladies Professional Golf Association Classic (LPGA Classic) is set to open at Reignwood Pine Valley in Beijing’s Changping district on Oct 3 and will last until Oct 6. A total of 81 top golfers across the globe will offer a great sporting event for the world.

It is the first time the LPGA will come to Beijing. The total prize money will amount to $18 billion this year.

As the first stop of the LPGA’s Asia Tour, the LPGA Classic announced its official launching at a press conference on May 15 in Reignwood Group’s own theatre on May 15.

"We feel fairly honored to introduce the LPGA to Beijing. The development of golf has entered the fast lane since it was included in the 2016 Olympic Games again. I am fully convinced that the Reignwood LPGA Classic will further promote the sport in China, as well as create an opportunity for more Chinese fans to enjoy a world-class competition without going abroad,” said Dr. Chanchai, chairman of the Reignwood Group, at the conference.

The Reignwood LPGA Classic announces its official launching at a press conference on May 15.

Dr. Chanchai also noted that Reignwood Golf Club had successfully organized many professional golf games, including the 2004 Volkswagen Masters, the 2005 Johnnie Walker Classic, and the 2007 and 2008 Reignwood Beijing Open. He looks forward to welcoming world-class female golfers to the LPGA Classic in Beijing.

The Reignwood LPGA Classic, co-certificated by the CGA, CLPGA and LPGA, will attract 81 top golfers, including the top 62 on the LPGA list, the top 15 from the CGA and four golfers invited by the sponsor of the event.

The competition plays a key role for female golfers who wish to get qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games. All of them want to earn as many credits as possible so as to lay a solid foundation for the upcoming Olympic Games.

The Reignwood Group is a large-scale multinational company with a strong sense of social responsibility. Promoting healthy and fashionable lifestyles, the group has developed four pillar industries. It aims at improving its product value and service quality and leading modern business entertainment lifestyles. The group has devoted itself to developing the sports and culture industry in China in the past two decades.

Apart from Pine Valley Golf Club, the Reignwood Group also has two golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus and Robert Trent Jones II in Dali city, Yunnan province, and Jingui Lake, Hubei province, respectively.

Zhang Xiaoning, an official of the CGA, said that his association is excited to witness such a large-scale ladies golf game in China. He believes that the tournament will bring infinite opportunities for the development of golf in China.

Mike Vann, an LPGA commissioner, pointed out that the fruitful achievements made by Chinese golfers show that golf has been flourishing in Asia in recent years. He felt proud that LPGA members come from all over the world. As we all know, some LPGA members who were born in Asia, such as Zeng Yani, one of the top four golfers in the world, and Feng Shanshan, one of the world’s top eight golfers, have made outstanding achievements. Their achievements prove that Asia has caught up with or even exceeded the international level in golf.

Zeng Yani sent her congratulations to the championship. She also felt excited that the LPGA Classic is debuting in China.

Xu Guangshu, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau, said that the Reignwood LPGA Classic would be another grand sport event in Beijing following the 2008 Olympic Games. It will be a milestone for Beijing’s experience as a host for such an international competition.

Jon Podany, a representative from the LPGA; Pan Zhongguang, an official of the China LPGA Tour; Yu Junsheng, minister of Changping district’s publicity department; Zhu Yadang, leader of the International Management Group; and Feng Shanshan, the first LPGA “Grand Slam” winner from the Chinese mainland, attended the press conference.