The newly-minted Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) Series organised by the Asian Golf Leaders Forum (AGLF) got off to a roaring start with the successful staging of the KRW1.2 billion (approx US$1 million) DB Group Korea Women’s Open last week.
The LAT Series was launched during the week of the tournament with a signing ceremony between the AGLF and the Korea Golf Association (KGA). The dignitaries present were Kim Jung-tai, chairman of the AGLF and the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA), Lee Jong-myung, chairman of the KGA, Kang Hyung-mo, vice chairman of the KGA, and Paul Park, secretary general of the AGLF.
The DB Group Korea Women’s Open was won by Korea’s Park Min-ji, who claimed her first KLPGA Tour Major title with a winning total of 17-under-par 271 (68-69-64-70) at Rainbow Hills Country Club in Eumseong. She took home a cheque for KRW300 million for her fifth victory of the 2021 season.
“The DB Group Korea Women’s Open is the first tournament of the LAT series and is indeed a significant milestone for Asian Women’s golf. These tournaments will give us the opportunity to enhance international sporting relations and promote friendship between Asian countries through golf,” said Kim, who is the chairman and CEO of the Hana Financial Group.
Kim is one of four founders of the AGLF, along with Hur Gwang-Soo of the KGA, Kim Sang-Yeol of the KLPGA and Kenny Park of Simone.
The AGLF aims to boost Asian women’s golf by co-developing existing tournaments or establishing new tournaments in countries across the continent as part of the LAT Series. Backed by the R&A, the LAT Series will have at least five events in 2021 starting with the DB Group Korea Women’s Open and concluding with the Hana Financial Group Singapore Women’s Open in early December. Total prize money is estimated to be KRW5.3 billion (more than US$4.6 million).
Plans are also in the works to establish the LAT Series ranking, culminating with the AGLF Asian Player of the Year Award for the player who earns the most points at the end of the year. According to the AGLF, discussions are underway with several key stakeholders in the region including the Indonesia Golf Association and Thailand Golf Association on the hosting of national women’s opens in their respective countries.
All LAT Series events will be telecast via regional broadcasters such as Malaysia’s Astro, Singapore’s Singtel, Vietnam’s VTV, China’s Golf Channel, Thailand’s Golf Channel and Japan’s Sky A.
2021 Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) Series Tournament Schedule (confirmed events):
June 17-20: DB Group Korea Women’s Open
Sanctioning Body: Korea Golf Association
Prize Fund: KRW1.2 billion (approx US$1 million)
September 30-October 3: Hana Financial Group Championship
Sanctioning Body: Korea LPGA
Prize Fund: KRW1.5 billion (approx US$1.3 million)
November 25-28: Taiwan Women’s Open with SBS Golf
Sanctioning Bodies: Korea LPGA / Chinese Taipei Golf Association
Prize Fund: US$800,000
December 3-5: 000 Championship with SBS Golf
Sanctioning Bodies: Korea LPGA / Vietnam Golf Association
Prize Fund: KRW0.7 billion (approx. US$600,000)
December 10-12: Hana Financial Group Singapore Women’s Open
Sanctioning Bodies: Korea LPGA / Singapore Golf Association
Prize Fund: KRW1 billion (approx US$900,000)
December 12: Asian Player of the Year Ceremony (during Singapore Women’s Open prizegiving)
