TLPGA stars will take the course at the Orient Golf & Country Club in Taoyuan, Taiwan on 10-12 January for the 2014 Hitachi Ladies Classic as new season officially tees off. Two time champion Pornanong Phatlum is set to defend her title and become the first player ever to score three wins at the Hitachi Ladies Classic.

The players are certainly looking forward to the season-opening event on the picturesque layout and will be vying for their share of the lucrative NT$10 million on offer. The winner after the 3-day 54-hole competition will receive NT$2.5 million.

A high calibre field of 102 TLPGA and international players from ten countries are competing. This tournament is the first golf event in the New Year on the global circuit.

A familiar name teeing it up is LPGA rising star, Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum. The player who is often seen with pink color is coming off her best season as a pro, having secured four LPGA top-10 finishes and celebrated her win at the recent Dubai Ladies Masters on the LET.

Phatlum is joined in the field by Taiwanese Teresa Lu (盧曉晴). The JLPGA No.3 broke through for her maiden victory when she came from behind to win the LPGA co-sanctioned 2013 Mizuno Classic.

Lu will go in as one of the favorites after having a meat-and-potatoes year of 2013 as she surged up in the world rankings with consistent performances on the JLPGA Tour, topping the leaderboard of the most eagles hit throughout the calendar and finally crowned her first title in November. Lu was the winner in 2012 but came short in a tie for third with Phoebe Yao (姚宣瑜).

“Hitachi Taiwan Star” Yeh Hsin-Ning (葉欣寧), TLPGA 2013 year-end No.1 Lu Ya-Huei, two-time TLPGA winning amateur Cheng Ssu-Chia (程思嘉), and the Credit Union Challenge winner on the Symetra Tour, Hsu Wei-Ling (徐薇淩), will all be in action in hope of keeping the trophy in front of local fans.

International players looking to get their 2014 off to a flying start include China LPGA No.1, Korean Chung Ye-Na, JLPGA No.35 Kaori Ohe, Thai veteran Titiya Plucksataporn, and Abu Bakar Ainil Johani of Malaysia.

The course that will be featured in this week’s tournament, Orient Golf & Country Club, is designed by American Ronald Fream. At 6,532 yards, the course fascinates with its beautiful landscape and one of the finest grasses for the greens – Tiffeagle.

Annual proceeds from the tournament will be used to endow local charities. Over the last five years, the tournament has raised donation exceeding NT$20 millions.