As golf tournaments globally take a temporary break, women's golf in the Asia-Pacific region stands out as an exception to this trend.
This week, all eyes are on Jakarta, Indonesia, as the 2023 Simone Asia-Pacific Cup, hosted by the Asia Golf Leaders Forum (AGLF), prepares to take centre stage.
The three-day event, featuring an impressive US$750,000 prize fund, is set to kick off on Thursday at the prestigious Pondok Indah Golf Course.
Occurring just before the holiday season, the Simone Asia-Pacific Cup emerges as the exclusive international golf event happening globally during this period, promising a special holiday treat for golf enthusiasts.
It guarantees an enthralling display, seamlessly blending the excitement of competition with the joyous essence of the holiday season.
Entering its second edition, the tournament features 58 professional and amateur players from 16 countries, including South Korea, Thailand, Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan, China, Australia, and the United States.
A thrilling competition is certainly on the horizon as the tournament features some of the world's best golfers, led by world No. 9 Atthaya Thitikul, who will undoubtedly aim to cap off a consistent season with a victory.
The 20-year-old did not secure a victory but has impressed with 13 top-10 finishes out of 21 tournaments entered.
What makes her feat even more impressive is that her string of good results earned her the LPGA Tour's Vare Trophy, awarded to the player with the lowest scoring average of the season.
This accomplishment makes her the first non-winner to receive the award.
Atthaya will also aim to contend strongly in the national team event, where she's teaming up with Jaravee Boonchant, a fellow competitor on the LPGA Tour.
This formidable Thai combination is regarded as a genuine contender, poised to challenge the mighty South Koreans for the top spot in the team competition.
Represented by their KLPGA Tour stars, South Korea will rely on the seasoned Da-yeon Lee and So-young Lee, both 26, who boast a combined total of 14 titles in their home tour, to vie for both the individual and team titles.
Young stars Min-byeol Kim and You-min Hwang, the KLPGA's top two rookies aged 19 and 20, will also aim to make their mark as they come together to form another "dream team."
Pride is on the line for the South Koreans as they seek to defend the team title won by Bo-mee Lee and So-yeon Ryu.
Philippines' Princess Mary Superal is gearing up to defend her title, but she undoubtedly aims for more, teaming up with compatriot Bianca Pagdanganan.
Pagdanganan holds cherished memories at the Pondok Indah Golf Course, having secured a bronze in the 2018 Indonesia Asian Games.
Representing Japan is Nasa Hataoka, with an impressive track record of six wins on the LPGA Tour and six on the JLPGA Tour, making a formidable entry into the competition.
Hataoka will be partnering with Aihi Takano.
Australian Robyn Choi, who topped the LPGA Tour Qualifying Series, recently confirmed her participation in the tournament.
Hyundai, the official vehicle sponsor of the tournament, is offering a brand-new Stargazer minivan as a hole-in-one prize on two par-three holes (Nos. 12 and 17).
The tournament will be broadcast live by JTBC Golf, the official broadcasting station of the event.
Ends.
