The inaugural Singapore Ladies Masters tees off on Thursday when 132 players from 14 countries and regions will battle it out at Laguna National Golf Resort Club.

From left: Jackie Chulya of Thailand, Ting Ziyun of Chinese Taipei, Sui Xiang of China, Crystal Huang of Hong Kong, China, and Shi Yuli of China pose with the Singapore Ladies Master trophy at the Laguna National Golf Resort Club in Singapore on Sunday. The tournament is the first China LPGA event to be staged outside the Chinese mainland since 2019. [Photo/China Daily]

As the first China Ladies Professional Golf Association (CLPGA) event to be staged outside the Chinese mainland since 2019, the $100,000 tournament features an international field that includes current order of merit leader Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong of Thailand, China's Shi Yuli and Sui Xiang, Malaysia's Genevieve Ling and South Korea's Park Ji-wook.

Sherman arrives in Singapore hot on the heels of her victory at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Championship in Shanghai last month, and believes the conditions will suit her perfectly in the Lion City.

"The weather conditions in Singapore are similar to Thailand where I'm from. I'm familiar with playing under such hot and humid conditions. Hopefully, I can also play to my strengths, stick to my game plan and do well this week," said Sherman.

Shi, who is currently ranked third on the CLPGA order of merit, is also looking forward to the tournament despite playing at Laguna National for the first time.

"It will be a new challenge as this is my first time playing here. I hope to put up a good challenge and do my best," said Shi.

While Shi is making her maiden outing at Laguna National, Crystal Huang of Hong Kong, China returns to this week's venue with renewed enthusiasm.

"This is my third visit to Singapore and I'm so excited to be back. I played at a Korean LPGA event in Singapore last December and stayed at Dusit Thani then. I took the opportunity to play a round here after the tournament. I like the course layout and it's nice to be back competing here now.

"There are many water hazards and the greens are very small. Accuracy will be key for me this week," said Huang.

The Trust Golf Singapore Ladies Masters is the fifth leg of the 2023 CLPGA season after stops in Tianjin, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong province. The top 60 professional players (including ties) in the first two rounds will advance to the final round on Saturday.

Since its founding in 2008, the CLPGA has rapidly built a reputation for producing top players that have enjoyed success beyond its borders, with previous CLPGA order of merit winners Feng Shanshan, Lin Xiyu and Zhang Weiwei, all having played on the LPGA Tour, golf's premier women's circuit.

"We are proud to present the first CLPGA event in Singapore and very excited to introduce the very talented ladies in the tour who will be coming to Laguna National this July," said Lyn Yeo, founder of the event's organizer, LLD Sports. "The CLPGA is an exceptional tour and is known to be a very hospitable tour that will definitely offer something different for golf fans and spectators who come to watch them play," she continued.

Local Singapore stars Amanda Tan and Shannon Tan will bid to challenge some of Asia's best this week.

Hopes are especially high for Amanda, who is the first Singaporean to earn a card for the Epson Tour — the official qualifying circuit for the LPGA Tour.

"I am glad the event worked out well with my playing schedule on the Epson Tour, so I can be back competing on familiar ground. It is always a pleasure to compete at home so I am very excited for the week ahead," said the 24-year-old.

Shannon, a 19-year-old student at Texas Tech University, finished joint fourth in the NCAA Division 1 regionals and is also relishing the chance to compete at Laguna National, her home club.

"I am looking forward to the Singapore Ladies Masters especially because it is the first CLPGA event to be hosted at my home club, Laguna National. I hope to do well against top competitors from China and the region," she said.

Getting set to host its third global golf tour event in 2023, Laguna National is certainly well-prepared for this week's tourney.

"We always look forward to having top professional golfers from around the world come and compete on our two championship courses, the Masters and the Classic. With the Singapore Ladies Masters, we are hosting our third professional golf event this year, following the DP World Tour's Singapore Classic and LET's Aramco Team Series. I am sure the Singapore Ladies Masters will be a great success," said Kevin Kwee, Laguna's executive director.

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