The Asia Golf Leaders Forum (AGLF) has reaffirmed their commitment to host a series of women’s golf tournaments in Asia which has been postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
AGLF’s goal to drive women’s golf in the region, which include countries such as Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia, remains firmly on track with the new Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) golf ranking system ready to be rolled out.
This week’s Hana Financial Group Championship, which tees off at the Adonis Country Club in Pocheon, Gyeonggi-do on Thursday, is part of the LAT Series.
As it is still a challenge to host golf tournaments outside South Korea, organisers have extended their invitation instead to promising youth golfers from Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia to compete in the tournament as part of its ‘Asia Prospects’ campaign.
Singapore’s Shannon Tan, Malaysia’s Norezrine Alisa and Noraishah Alisa together with Thailand’s Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong, Jaravee Boonchant and Onkanok Soisuwan were nominated by their respective golf associations.
After their nominations were submitted, AGLF assisted them with their visa, travel documents and quarantine exemption status in South Korea, so that they can be ready to join the stellar field at the Hana Financial Championship.
AGLF Secretary-General Paul Park said: “The AGLF is focused on growing and developing the LAT Series into a tour representing the Asia Pacific region. Apart from our six Asian prospects who are already here in South Korea for the tournament, we had also extended our invitations to other golfers from countries including China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam and Japan. However, some of them were unable to commit because of their conflicting schedules or they could not get have their quarantine exemption status approved.
“We are hopeful the pandemic situation in the region stabilises so that we can continue with our plans to feature tournaments like the Korea Women’s Open, the Hana Financial Group Championship, the Taiwan Women’s Open, Singapore Women’s Open, Vietnam Championship, Thailand Ladies Championship, Indonesia Women’s Open, as well as other major tournaments in the Asia Pacific region.”
