The 2024 Hubei China Ladies Elite will commence on June 27 at the Golden Bear Course of the Hubei Ecological Park. This tournament has attracted 132 players from 9 countries and regions, including China, Thailand, Japan, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Chinese Taipei, with 121 professionals and 11 amateurs.
While the professional lineup shines, the amateurs are not to be overlooked. Hong Kong’s amateur player Han Zilin, Chongqing native Zhou Shiyuan, young amateurs Chen Ruien and Tang Rongze, among others, will they emulate Yijia Ren’s success and demonstrate the strength of Chinese women’s golf?
Han Zilin, a 17-year-old amateur from Hong Kong, recently celebrated her birthday in April. She represented the Hong Kong Golf Team in the 2023 Asia-Pacific Women’s Amateur Championship, finishing tied for third, the best placement for a Hong Kong player in that event. Making her first appearance at Hubei, Han is not intimidated by the 6,512-yard Golden Bear course: “I focus more on the greens rather than distance. The greens here are quite firm, so finding the right landing spot to create birdie opportunities will be my key practice area before the tournament.”
“For this competition, I’m looking forward to two things: showcasing my true abilities and handling unexpected situations to achieve the best outcome,” Han shared before the event. “The China LPGA Tour provides us with ample opportunities to develop, and with such a strong field at Hubei, it’s a rare chance for amateur players to compete alongside top players from around the world. I’m also eager to see if I can make a breakthrough in my game.”
Like Han, 17-year-old rookie amateur Chen Ruien is also making her debut at the Golden Bear Course. “The course is so beautiful, and I love it! After playing 18 holes today, I found it challenging due to the shorter distance with my new driver, and the par-4s are quite long. So, distance-wise, this course presents a challenge for me,” Chen described her initial impression.
In the 2024 season, Chen participated in three Starter Tour events, winning her first title at the April Golden Li Zhaoqing event. However, after her victory, she experienced a setback at the 2024 Guangdong Women’s Open due to lack of discipline. Despite the disappointment, Chen gained valuable experience on the professional stage. Heading into the China LPGA Tour event, she vows to be stricter with herself, focusing on every shot and hole. “With many high-level players competing, I need to give 120% to push myself. Each tournament helps me grow,” Chen said. “My goal for now is to advance to the final rounds, and then I’ll aim higher.”
Another Starter Tour champion, 14-year-old Zhou Shiyuan from Chongqing, has joined the Hubei China Ladies Elite field. In her first Starter Tour appearance in May, at Xiamen, she clinched the title! In her three China LPGA Tour events, she finished in the top five twice, demonstrating exceptional performance.
Born on December 18, 2009, Zhou has a chance to break Yijia Ren’s record as the youngest China LPGA Tour champion set at 14 years, 10 months, and 15 days in the Beijing Challenge. “Witnessing Yijia’s triumph, I hope to have my day on the winner’s podium. This four-round tournament is physically demanding, and there are many skilled professionals. My aim is to play well, stay focused, and advance to gain more experience,” Zhou expressed.
Amateur Tang Rongze secured her spot in the main event through the June 23 Qualifying Tournament, finishing second. After the 18-hole qualifier, Tang identified the course’s challenge: “For me, the toughest part is attacking the greens, requiring precise calculations.” Setting an ambitious goal, Tang stated, “My target for this tournament is to finish in the top ten.”
On June 27, the Hubei China Ladies Elite will kick off, and the emerging amateur talents promise exciting performances on the Golden Bear Course. Stay tuned!
Credit: Liu Zhuang, Wang Liming
