Women from 11 countries and regions are competing for 500,000 yuan ($74,840) in prize money in the Hengqin Phoenix Tree Building Orient Golf Challenge, which opened on March 21 and runs to the 23rd.

The China Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) line-up consists of pros Pan Yanhong, Li Jiayun, and Yang Taoli; rising stars Liu Wenbo, Luo Ying, and Du Mohan; and youths Ji Yifan and Liu Meiyun. Others among 120 contenders at Orient (Zhuhai) Golf Country Club hail from Australia, South Korea, Japan, South Africa, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Thailand.

Press conference

The biggest question this year is whether Zhuhai is actually the Land of Promise for female golfers. In the past three years, Shi Yuting, Zhang Weiwei, and Chonlada Chayanun each claimed their first titles here.

The first stop in the China LPGA Tour, the local event is organized by the Zhuhai Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism & Sports Bureau and Zhuhai Golf Association under the supervision of the China Golf Association.

On July 1, Orient (Zhuhai) Golf Country Club will begin a campaign to allow people to golf on a 100-yuan budget, making the sport more accessible to average people, said deputy general manager Liu Wei.

Group of guests [Photos provided to Zhuhai Daily]

The 40-story Phoenix Tree Building, set in the core of Hengqin Port just opposite Macao, functions as a seven-star hotel, office building, and shopping mall and has a commercial helicopter apron on top.