By Chen Xiangfeng (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-12-20 09:20

Chief officials from the Chinese Golf Association (CGA) and the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) have promised to further the exchanges of women's golfers after cooperation over the past year has produced such impressive development in China.

"It was a great year for China's women's golf. Since we started cooperation with KLPGA last year, the number of pro golfers in China is increasing quickly and the performances of our players are encouraging," said Zhang Xiaoning, vice president of CGA.

Huang Ping

"We will further the exchange next year, encouraging more Chinese to play in KLPGA and inviting more Koreans to come play in tournaments like the Orient China Ladies Open."

Thanks to the exchange program, the top 40 players in this year's KLPGA Order of Merit were invited to attend the weekend's Orient China Ladies Open - a major domestic golf tournament - giving Chinese a precious chance to compete with superior opponents.

"KLPGA has grown into one of the best tours in the world. We came to the China Ladies Open last year and it has become a very good platform for women's golf in Korea and China," said Han Myung-Hyun, vice president of KLPGA.

"China has very good young golfers. They have great potential. I hope the cooperation between the two sides will help lift China women's golf into a higher level."

KLGPA is considered as the world's third best women's pro golf tour after the LPGA and JLPGA and has developed many of its players into some of the LPGA's elite.

China's women's golf, however, is in its nascent stage and most of the players are not yet good enough to compete in the KLPGA, not to mention the JLPGA or LPGA.

Zhang Na

Only one Chinese woman currently plays in the KLPGA, Huang Ping, and one in the JLPGA, Zhang Na. Teenager Feng Shanshan has just won exempt status in next year's LPGA, the first Chinese golfer to do so.

"It's not easy for more Chinese to compete in higher-level tours. So this kind of cooperation is the best way to develop our golfers," Zhang said. "Huang Ping, Zhang Na, and Feng Shanshan had similar experiences at home before they were able to qualify for overseas' major tours."

The trio started their careers in domestic competitions like the Orient Masters and Orient Ladies Tour and finally emerged after years of hard work.

"Our younger golfer should learn from those pioneers who have been on the world's stage. They should grasp the chance like this tournament to show themselves with passion and determination."

Four years ago, in an effort to expose Chinese women's professionals to international-level competition, T.K. Pen, president and CEO of Orient Golf International, initiated the Orient Masters, a local women's pro tour. Last year, he set up Orient China Ladies Open, the season finale for the local tour.

Pen believes producing local champions will make golf more popular in China.

Feng Shanshan

"Golf still trails other elite sports like football, basketball, table tennis and tennis. Therefore, to propel golf into the elite category - in terms of popularity, interest and results - we must produce champions in the international arena," he said.

"I'm doing my part to make golf in China one of the most popular games, both for social and competition. I started the Orient Masters Tour to give Chinese women a chance to play in tournaments, earn some money and to manage their golf in international competitions."

But Pen admits China still has a long way to go to catch up with its neighbor.

"Compared to South Korea, we have only a few high-level golfers. Zhang and Feng emerged this year. But if we have only two golfers emerging in the world's stage every year, it will take us 10 years to have 20," said Pen. "It's too slow. We will have to make more efforts next year, and hopefully there will be more Chinese women playing in major tours."