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The 2015 TLPGA Tour season will officially tee off on January 9th with the curtain rising at the 2015 Hitachi Ladies Classic. Taiwanese golf fans are in for a treat right at the first event in 2015 following the announcement that the three-time defending champion, LPGA star Pornanong Phatlum, who is seeking her fourth Hitachi Ladies Classic title along with a 2011 triumph and the third consecutive one, will be returning to the impressive surroundings of the Orient Golf & Country Club from January 9th-11th.
Phatlum had an outstanding seven top-10 finishes in 26 starts from the 2014 calendar year, topped off with a runner-up showing at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia in October and securing her place into the top-20 in the LPGA Tour Official Money List for the first time.
Last year, the iconic Thai star rose above the pack for her fourth victory at this event following wins in 2011, 2013, and 2014, using a three-round total of 208 (70-69-69) to outclass her closest rival, Taiwanese Chien Pei-Yun (錢珮芸) by 5 shots. Other than the Hitachi Ladies Classic, Phatlum has also completed a historic hat-trick in 2010-2012 at the Hero Women's Indian Open of LAGT.
On the other hand, Chien, the year-end No.1 on the 2014 TLPGA Tour Money List, will be seeking a breakthrough first victory, finishing just short at second on multiple occasions, including at the 2014 Hitachi Ladies Classic.
This year marks the seventh edition of the tournament, staged as the season-opening event on the TLPGA Tour for the second straight year. With a prize purse of NT$ 10 million and always one of the most competitive fields on the TLPGA Tour, if not the best, spectators can look forward to another elite sporting event in the Taoyuan City.
2014 Japan LPGA season-ending Ricoh Cup champion Teresa Lu (盧曉晴) will join Phatlum and Chien to head the lineup made up of 108 professional players from eight countries and 19 local juniors. Lu followed her breakthrough year in 2013 when she lifted Mizuno Classic title and propelled herself even higher in 2014, taking three JLPGA victories including two majors, with a fairytale ending in the Ricoh Cup the Tour Championship in Miyazaki, where she racked up a 25 million yen winner prize and broke the 100 million yen mark in annual prize earning. Lu climbed up to a career high World Ranking of 32nd after the week.
Another player hoping to secure the title for home fans is Cheng Ssu-Chia (程思嘉). Having had already four victories under her belt as an amateur, including the CLPGA and LET co-sanctioned Xiamen Open in November, the 17-year-old announced her decision to turn pro on December 27th, with a professional ranking of 145th.
LPGA Tour Cards winner from the 2014 Symetra Tour, Hsu Wei-Ling (徐薇淩) and Lee Min (李旻), JLPGA Tour winner Phoebe Yao (姚宣瑜), and Thai teenage sensation Ariya Jutanugarn are all among the contenders that could challenge the title.
The course that will be featured in this week’s tournament, Orient Golf & Country Club, is designed by American Ronald Fream. At 6,581 yards for this year, the course fascinates with its creative settings and one of the finest grasses for the greens – Tiffeagle.
The tournament will be contested over 54 holes of stroke play with a cut off the top 50 on Saturday. Annual proceeds from the tournament and an equal bonus from Hitachi Ltd. and Taiwan Hitachi Co., Ltd. will be used to benefit local charities. Over the last six years, the tournament has raised donation exceeding NT$25 million. |
