The Buick LPGA Shanghai has seen many interesting contests ever since its inception in 2018. The first two editions of this premium tournament saw Danielle Kang compellingly dominate the course. She left no room for doubt for being one of the fiercest competitors.
After a 3-year hiatus, the major event returns to the grounds of Qizhong Garden Golf Club, Shanghai. The long break led to a loss of momentum for the two-time champion, causing her to drop to T17 in 2023. However, there was also a new champion in town, and her name was Angel Yin. She won the last version of the championship with a score of 14-under par after she overcame a tough battle with Lilia Vu.
This year, we will see the 4th edition of the event at the Qinzhong Garden Golf Club. We are sure you are eager to learn what the course has in store for some of the best LPGA players participating in the tournament. So let’s learn more about the golf club and how it will challenge Yin and co.
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The history of Qizhong Garden Golf Club
Originally, the Shanghai Qizhong Garden Golf Club had been established way back in 1995. Four years later, in October 1999, it was operational. In an attempt to compete with some of the world’s best courses, the Qinzhong Golf Club underwent a major renovation that began in 2011. Had you known what the field looked like before its redesign, you could have never imagined it to become a premium venue for a PGA Tour event.
Sitting in the middle of the Southwestern suburban region of Shanghai, this golf course turned from the weekend plan for local businessmen to one of the best courses in the world. The golf course was re-opened in July 2013 after two years of redevelopment.
As per LGPA.com, Dana Fry and Jun Lu were the masterminds behind redesigning the intricate and blissful golf course between the high-density residential zones. Their only goal was to ensure what surrounds the course shouldn’t hamper the beautiful experiences that lay within. What was once a featureless flat land turned into the bewitching heaven of 18 holes with lakes, bunkers, and challenging grade changes of more than 40 feet.
Today, the Qizhong Garden Golf Club sits on 1,050 acres of land. It stretches to the length of 7,208 yards and 72 pars. It also includes a 300-yard driving range that helps golfers cover the distance quickly. One of the major features includes an Italian Mediterranean-style club restaurant that can seat 140 individuals. Golfers will never run out of lockers as the club has an abundance of locker room space with a total of 323 lockers. Lastly, it also features an impressive boutique to shop for your next outfit for the course.
Since its redevelopment, the Qizhong Garden Golf Club has won many honors from notable golf media outlets. Between 2014 and 2023, it was awarded the China Top 100 and Top 10 Awards 11 times, by the Golf Masters magazine. It has also been featured in the list of Top 100 and Top 10 Golf Courses for other magazines like World Golf, Asian Golf, and Golf Vacations.
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As the grounds get groomed again in preparation for the Buick LPGA Shanghai event, let’s see what lies ahead in the tournament for us avid fans.
What to expect from this year’s Buick LPGA Shanghai event?
Some of the best LPGA players in the world are eager to prove their worth this year and bag the $2.1 million prize money. The previous winners of the Buick LGPA Shanghai, Danielle Kang, and Angel Yin, are going to be accompanied by some great competitors. The likes of Ruoning Yin, the Australian Hannah Green, and Jeeno Thitikul from Thailand will be their top adversaries.
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All three women are currently placed on the list of the top 10 ranked players in the world. Unfortunately, the list didn’t feature last year’s runner-up, Lilia Vu. We are definitely going to miss World Number 2 this time, hoping she comes back stronger!
The 4-day tournament will be from October 10th – 13th, 2024. With only a few days left, we are eager to see who will come out on top this time around. Who are you going to place your bets on this year? Share your opinion in the comments below.