Lin leads Chinese challenge

China's No 2 Lin Xiyu will lead a group of locals challenging the top players from the Korean LPGA at the Dec 12-14 Hyundai China Ladies Open at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.

Co-sanctioned by the CLPGA and KLPGA, the final stop on the 2014 Chinese Tour will offer record prize money of $550,000 and attract the top 40 players from South Korea, including KLPGA order of merit leader Kim Hyo-joo and defending champion Jang Ha-na.

South Koreans have dominated the tournament since its debut in 2006, but the 18-year-old Lin, who last month won both the Sanya's Hill Ladies Classic and Sanya Ladies Open, a co-sponsored event with the Ladies European Tour (LET), is expected to lead a strong Chinese contingent that includes rising stars Shi Yuting and CLPGA champion Liu Yu.