CLPGA forum brings women golfers to the fore

Gao Zhidan, director of the General Administration of Sport of China (GASC) has praised China's golf program for winning its second bronze medal at the recent Paris Olympic Games, it was revealed at a forum held on the sidelines of this week's FILA GOLF Women's Classic.

Speaking at the "Women Create Her-story" forum ahead of the Friday start of the China LPGA Tour event in Shanghai, Wei Qingfeng, secretary-general of the China Golf Association (CGA), said that, after the state leaders met with the Chinese sports delegation, the administration also held a summary meeting, with the Paris delegation also taking part.

It was there that Gao, also president of the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC), commended the golf program for its "good performance", after Lin Xiyu won the bronze medal in women's golf, matching the feat achieved by Feng Shanshan at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Wei said preparatory work for the 2028 and 2032 Olympics was "already on the agenda" and, ultimately, it would all come down to identifying and developing talent to compete at future Games.

"The association is also coordinating various resources to provide a good starting point for athletes, especially in training, competition and daily life. For the 2028 and 2032 Olympics, we hope to see the rise of more young athletes," Wei said.

"Now, female players who are 15 and 16 years old have already shown promise, and these athletes, along with even younger ones, will be the appropriate age for the 2032 and even 2036 Olympics. The association will continue to provide a platform for teenagers and families who love golf, giving them the opportunity to excel."

Wei said Chinese golf is stronger now that Feng, the former world No 1, had accepted a position to serve as a promotional ambassador for the China LPGA Tour. Her vast experience could be passed down and "more female players will take up the baton to strive for China in golf".

Feng, who was part of forum panel with FILA China CEO Brian Yiu, Echo Ma, executive publisher of Golf Digest China, and Li Hong, China LPGA Tour CEO, said she was comfortable to retire from competitive golf knowing that many excellent young Chinese players were following in her wake.

"I once followed in the footsteps of my predecessors as a junior, learning their strengths and continuously improving myself. Now that I'm in that position, seeing the growth of the juniors is gratifying," said the Guangdong native, the first Chinese player to capture a major title when she won the 2012 Women's PGA Championship.

"The growth of players cannot be achieved without support from all sides. I am grateful to companies like FILA that are willing to support the development of women's golf. I am very optimistic about the future development of female golfers in China."

Li Hong, who has guided the growth of the CLPGA Tour since the first tournaments were held in 2009, said it had always been the aim of the Tour to provide a platform to develop young players at the professional level both in China and around the region.

Over the years, numerous players have used the CLPGA Tour as a stepping stone to develop their game to enable them to compete at the highest level. She cited Yin Ruoning, who won her first three professional starts as a teenager on the CLPGA Tour, as an example. Since then, the Shanghai native has won three times on the US LPGA Tour, including the 2023 Women's PGA Championship.

This year, the 21-year-old Yin, a former world No 1, represented China with Lin Xiyu at the Paris Olympics where she finished equal 10th.

With the theme of this week's Women's Classic being "beautiful heritage", and a winner's trophy reflecting that, Li said she was touched as she listened to the many golf stories at the forum, adding that such heritage needs to be passed down.

"Today, there are more than 22 players from the Chinese mainland competing on the LPGA Tour, with three players from Japan and one from South Korea. After more than a decade of progress, Chinese women have achieved great success on the global stage," said Li.

"We all know that Olympic qualification is tied to world ranking points. To participate in the Olympics, players must compete in high-ranking events, most of which take place on the world stage.

"The path to golf requires a step-by-step progression."

Li thanked Yiu for FILA China's long association with golf, saying sponsorships by such companies were vital to the success of the game at both the amateur and professional levels.

"This is not just about golf, it's also about fashion. It introduces a lifestyle that makes golf more popular and more widely accepted. This is also a reflection of how sports contribute to creating a better life."

Yiu said FILA has had "a connection with women golfers for more than 40 years", and the company felt that now is the time to create its own namesake tournament on the China LPGA Tour.

The 1.2 million yuan ($168,438) event is being played on the Yangtze Links Course at PGA Golf Club Anying on Chongming Island.

"About eight or nine years ago, FILA sponsored the Women's World Cup of Golf," said Yiu. "In elite sports, golf has always been very important, and we feel that now is a good time to launch our own event IP. This women's elite tournament is our first step."

China Daily