The 2020 TLPGA Tour season kickstarts with the Hitachi Ladies Classic coming in action this Friday at the Ronald Fream designed Orient Golf & Country Club. Taiwan’s former world top-30 Teresa Lu (盧曉晴), who won the event in 2012, will headline a stellar field that includes reigning champion Parinda Phokan, four-time Hitachi Ladies Classic winner Pornanong Phatlum, Japan LPGA Tour’s top-20 players Eri Okayama and Mamiko Higa, as well as KLPGA Tour titlist Chen Yu-Ju (陳宇茹).

The Hitachi Ladies Classic, the traditionally season-opening event, offers prize money up to NT$10 million since the 2013 edition, which saw a huge increase from the NT$4.1 million purse when the tournament was first held in 2009.

108 players from 10 countries will tee their first shot in the 2020 season at the Orient, which underwent a transformation around the turn on the 9th hole to offer a better scenic view. The practice range was also expanded to help players shake off their rust.

“It’s great to come back here. I want to thank Hitachi to make this great event possible. I wish all my fellow players the best this week. Enjoy the golf!” said Phokan, the defending champion, on today’s pre-tournament conference. She will lead a 22-player contingent from Thailand to protect the country’s leading victory record in the tournament.

There are 27 players representing Japan, featuring four of the top-50 on the JLPGA Tour, banned by the no.12 ranked on the 2019 money list, Eri Okayama.

2012 champion and home favorite Teresa Lu, who was close to join Phatlum as a multiple winner but fell just short in 2015, returns to the event after five years. “The Orient course is in amazing shape. Thank you to staff for the great effort you put in, and especially big thanks to Hitachi. I hope I can make an ideal start in this special Olympic year,” Lu said. 2017 winner, Lee Min (李旻) will be another local title hopeful in action.

Miss Liu Yi-Chen stepped back in the position this year as the TLPGA chairwoman. “My heartfelt thanks to our dear partners Hitachi Ltd. and Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning Taiwan Co., Ltd.. I believe we are equally proud and excited at the upcoming high-quality competition this weekend. Seeing so many of our past champions return is a huge recognition to the Hitachi Ladies Classic already. I want to take the chance to thank again the players for your support,” Liu said.

Annual proceeds from the tournament and an equal bonus from Hitachi will be used to endow local charities. Over the last eleven years, the donation amount has exceeded NT$60 million.