Hainan Island, China: While Eila Galitsky will be attempting to defend her Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) title, fellow Thai Kan Bunnabodee has her sights set on gaining playing rights to the 2024 China Ladies Professional Golf Association (CLPGA) Tour.

Joint runner-up in the 2021 WAAP and a standout in the Purdue University golf team last year, Kan is now setting out on her professional career with hopes of progressing from the CLPGA’s qualifying school.

To be held over the East Course at The Dunes at Shenzhou Peninsula, Hainan, from February 3-6, a maximum of 132 players will compete over four rounds in the 72-hole stroke play qualifying tournament.

Among them are more than a dozen amateurs, including representatives from Australia and Hong Kong.

The top 60 players and ties will progress to the final two rounds. The top 40 players (including ties) after four rounds will earn their playing privileges on the CLPGA for 2024.

Since its inception in 2008, the CLPGA Qualifying School has provided players from mainland China and around the world with a platform to earn a career-changing spot on China’s premier ladies’ golf circuit.

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, Zhang Weiwei and Thailand’s Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong all having played on the LPGA Tour.

Other notable CLPGA alumnus include Yin Ruoning, who won her first three tournaments as a professional in CLPGA Tour events in 2020. She became the second Chinese woman after Feng to win a major title on the LPGA Tour and also reached the number one spot in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking last year.

Lin, a six-time CLPGA winner, broke into the top 10 of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking this year while Zeng Liqi, the youngest four-time champion on the CLPGA, showed her mettle abroad by playing at the 2022 Augusta National Women’s Amateur. In 2024, she’ll be making her debut on the LPGA Tour after earning her status from the Q-Series.

International winners on the CLPGA in 2023 included American Angel Yin (Buick LPGA Shanghai), Thais Dussavi Soopimijit (Guotai Cup Men’s and Women’s Professional Match Play) and Kusuma Meechai (CTBC Ladies Classic) and Singaporean amateur Shannon Tan at the Singapore Ladies Masters.

Li Hong, CEO of the CLPGA, said: “The CLPGA Qualifying School offers professionals the opportunity to achieve their dreams of playing in China and around the region. There is growing interest not only from Chinese players but also hopefuls from around the world.

“We hope to provide players with a true test and look forward to welcoming those who eventually come through to compete on the CLPGA in 2024.”

*For further details about the CLPGA Qualifying Tournament and registration information, click here.