A field of the future of women’s golf will contest the TLPGA and LAGT (Ladies Asian Golf Tour) co-sanctioned 2015 Hong Kong Ladies Open at the Hong Kong Golf Club (HKGC) which gets underway on Friday.

This event marks the first travel of the TLPGA Tour down to the Fragrant Harbour. “It was an incredible honor when the TLPGA was invited by the Hong Kong Golf Association, HKGC, and the LAGT to co-organize this tournament,” said TLPGA Chairwoman Liu Yi-Chen (劉依貞). “We hope that fans get to come and enjoy the beautiful golf displayed by some of the most promising, developing female talents in the world.”

“We are thrilled to see that women’s golf in Asia has been riding a high in these past few years with a lot of good potential players coming up and more international exposure. The Taiwan LPGA Tour has been recognized as a part of the World Rankings system and it’s wonderful to see the Tour has come in such a great state that we can continue to bring in opportunities for players outside our home nation.” The Hong Kong Ladies Open will be the second stop overseas on the 2015 TLPGA Tour after the ICTSI Ladies Open in Manila, Philippines in March.

On the pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday, the organizing committee announced to contribute HKD$100,000 from event sponsor Friends of Asia HK, to the HK Hereditary Breast Cancer Family Registry to improve the medical tools and resources and to increase breast cancer awareness and advocacy.

Winning the Xiamen Open last November on her Ladies European Tour debut, which is co-sanctioned by the China LPGA Tour, to cap off a stellar amateur career was a hugely memorable moment of Taiwanese young gun Cheng Ssu-Chia (程思嘉). Now as the top ranked participant (world number 118) this week, Cheng is hoping to deliver a repeat performance to lift her first trophy on pro tour.

“This is my first time playing in Hong Kong and I’m really looking forward to it,” the 17-year-old said. “I feel like I’ve been in a pretty good shape but mentally not as ready. I hope that this week I can finally shrug off the nerves and bring up my best game.” Cheng’s best outing since she turned pro at the end of last year has been a T6 finish at the RACV Ladies Masters in Gold Coast, Australia.

Competing alongside Cheng for the $120,000 purse are 96 players from 13 countries which includes South Africa’s Connie Chen and India’s Sharmila Nicolle.