Minjee Lee in Singapore’s LPGA Thailand

news, latest-news, news, Thai, China, International, 2016

Photo credit: Rahat Srivastava

Singapore’s Minjee Lee, the 2016 New Zealand amateur champion, will play in the LPGA Thailand, as the event moves to the kingdom.

The decision to go ahead with the tournament as it continues to rotate around Asia leaves it only as the largest on the professional circuit.

Minjee has been invited after Lee Feng, her world number three Asian Tour opponent from China and her US playing partner at the US Women’s Open this year, pulled out as had confirmed four other players for the event on the Thai island of Koh Samui.

Photo: Supplied

Feng had been expecting a baby with her fiance later this year and the couple’s plans were made public, as they had already decided to quit the tour.

“I was expecting Minjee to play this year,” said the Singaporean Golf Federation’s chief executive Xavier Yap.

“But at this stage I think she is quite close to her first professional LPGA win.

“We are excited to have her and we are very pleased with the agreement between the tournament and the LPGA.”

Eilidh Child, a three-time European amateur champion and Lee’s predecessor as NZ amateur champion, is the only other player from New Zealand likely to play in Thailand.

She is likely to stay away from the senior circuit, having taken a short break from the tour last year.

The international players will be making their debut at the Thailand Golf Tour event where they will be paired together from Monday with another rookie, US-based Thai Akara Kawamura.

-RNZ

Leave a Comment