Xiamen International Ladies Open Preview

It’s time for the fall Asian Swing for both the LPGA and the Ladies European Tour and while the LPGA is teeing it up at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia the Ladies European Tour is in China contending the Xiamen International Ladies Open at the Orient Golf and Country Club.

This year, with a full field, the tournament has been increased from three to four rounds to reflect the format for Olympic golf next year in Rio de Janeiro.

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European Solheim Cup team member Gwladys Nocera is targeting a 15th LET victory at the Xiamen. The former European No.1 tasted success in China two years ago when she won the Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open. She now has her sights on a second LET title in 2015 after winning the Lalla Meryem Cup in March.

Nocera says her game’s ready.

"“The main key will be the reading of the greens: some of them are slopey and different from the grass at home, even quicker, so it’s hard to find the right speed.”"

Another European Solheim Cup player, Caroline Hedwall, will make her first appearance in Xiamen. The 26-year-old from Helsingborg, who collected the most recent of her five LET titles three years ago at the 2012 UNIQA Ladies Golf Open in Austria, is enjoying China:

"“It’s a lot of fun to see different parts of China. I went to Beijing, Shanghai and Sanya before. It’s a great hotel and golf course and I’m really enjoying my stay so far. I’m kind of struggling this season, but hopefully I can play well here. My game is good so hopefully I can compete for the title, but I won’t set high goals.”"

The defending champion Ssu-Chia Cheng, from Chinese Taipei, won the title by three strokes last year as a 17-year-old amateur and has since turned professional. At a press conference on Wednesday, she said: “The win indeed changed my career. This was my first trip to China and also my first time playing in a Ladies European Tour event.”

Now in her rookie year on the Ladies European Tour, Cheng is enjoying moderate success. She is currently ranked 21st on the order of merit and third on the rookie standings having made cuts, including in two Majors at the Ricoh Women’s British Open and Evian Championship, with a season best tie for 6th at the Volvik Ladies Masters.

The other leading names in the tournament include this year’s LET winners Nicole Broch Larsen from Denmark (Helsingborg Open), England’s Hannah Burke (Tipsport Golf Masters), Australian Rebecca Artis (Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open) and Beth Allen of the United States (ISPS HANDA Ladies European Masters).

They are joined by the leading two rookie professionals who are both in the top 20 on the LET Order of Merit: Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Emily Kristine Pedersen from Denmark, who finished second at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France.

Although there’s no United States television coverage for the Xiamen International Ladies Open US and Canadian fans can follow the tournament action in real time on the Ladies European Tour electronic leaderboard and the LET website as well as ProGolfNow will provide ongoing end-of-round updates.

Next: Celine Herbin Wins Lacoste Ladies Open

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