The inaugural Hana Financial Group Singapore Women’s Open (HFGSWO) is set to make its long-awaited debut on the burgeoning Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) Series at the Tanah Merah Country Club from December 9 – 11.
Boasting a lucrative prize purse of SGD$1.1million, the tournament jointly sanctioned by Singapore Golf Association (SGA) and the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA), was initially scheduled to take place in 2020 but was postponed due to the Covid- 19 pandemic.
The HFGSWO will be the fourth and final leg of the LAT Series which comprised also of the season-opening DB Group 36th Korea Women’s Open in June, Simone Asia-Pacific Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia in August and the Hana Financial Group Championship, a major event of the KLPGA Tour in September.
The HFGSWO field will feature 102 players comprising KLPGA members, invites and select amateurs.
Singapore’s leading professionals Koh Sock Hwee and Amanda Tan will spearhead the local charge which is also expected to feature the likes of talented amateurs Shannon Tan, Aloysa Margiela Atienza and Jaymie Ng. Details of the other marquee players expected to tee up at Tanah Merah Country Club will be announced soon.
SGA President Tan Chong Huat said: “It’s been a long two-year wait, we’re so glad that the tournament will finally take place in December.
“Working hand in hand with our title sponsor Hana Financial Group, KLPGA and AGLF, we are committed to getting HFGSWO off to a roaring start and setting the tone for the many editions to come. We value and support their vision and commitment in expanding their regional footprint where Singapore will feature prominently. Inside the ropes, I hope our women’s golfers- whether professional or amateur, will make the most of this excellent opportunity to take on some of the biggest names in the game and get inspired.”
Paul Park, Secretary-General, AGLF said: “With the support of SGA, we are confident the Hana Financial Group Singapore Women’s Open will form a key cornerstone of our plans to expand the LAT series in the Asia Pacific.
“This series will provide women golfers in Asia with the opportunity to compete against the best and also promote the development of women’s golf in the region.”
Tanah Merah Country Club President, Ronald Ong, is looking forward to welcoming some of the best women golfers in the region and beyond to the Club’s championship Tampines course.
Ong commented: “Tanah Merah Country Club (TMCC) has a long tradition of supporting women’s golf and has in the past hosted the Kosaido Asahi Ladies Championship, Lexus Cup, HSBC Women‘s Champions (now renamed the HSBC Women’s World Championships) and Queen Sirikit Cup. TMCC is very pleased to continue this tradition with the inaugural Ladies Hana Financial Group Singapore Women’s Open. The Tampines course is designed for championship play and we can look forward to seeing a fine display of golfing skills from the top lady golfers as they play the challenging layout.”
The HFGSWO is led by event promoter Mediapro Asia, which has constantly provided strong support to women’s events. The company started its golf journey in the region with the Ladies European Tour, followed by the KLPGA, and has been working with the Singapore Golf Association since 2020. Mediapro Asia is also responsible for distributing broadcast rights and selling sponsorship rights to the HFGSWO in Singapore and overseas.
The LAT Series is a Korean non-profit organisation and operated by Asia Golf Leaders Forum (AGLF). It aspires to further promote women’s golf in Asia and unite Asian countries through the new circuit launched back in 2020.
