Celltrion ready to join LAT series with inaugural event slated for
New Zealand in 2024
New Zealand's Lydia Ko teeing off at the inaugural Simone Asia Pacific Cup
◾Kiwi Lydia Ko set to play host on new event on home soil
◾Celltrion to join forces with AGLF to grow the game of women’s golf in Asia Pacific
Women’s golf in New Zealand received a major boost after Asia Golf Leaders Forum (AGLF) announced they will be staging a new tournament in the South Pacific island as part of the Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) Series in 2024.
South Korean biopharmaceutical giant Celltrion will come on board as the title sponsor and hosted by Kiwi pride Lydia Ko, the world number four and two-time major winner.
This newest development comes after an agreement was made between AGLF, New Zealand Golf Association and Ko at the AGLF Summit Meeting which took place in conjunction with this week’s inaugural Simone Asia Pacific Cup in Jakarta.
Further details on the tournament dates and prize money will be announced later.
AGLF President Jungtae Kim said, "We are happy to announce that AGLF will be hosting a new LAT Series tournament in New Zealand in 2024. This is certainly a welcome development for AGLF as we are already feeling buoyed by the successful staging of the inaugural Simone Asia Pacific Cup at Pondok Indah Golf Course, the first LAT Series event held outside South Korea."
Jungjin Seo, Honorary President of Celltrion, said the decision to title sponsor the tournament in New Zealand came after he was inspired by what Eunkwan Kenny Park, President of Simone Group, has done to spark the development of women’s golf in Indonesia.
Seo intends to do the same in Oceania continent where his company has a business interest.
"I'm deeply inspired by President Park's effort in giving back to society. He established his company's branch in Indonesia 25 years ago had since transformed it into a renowned global handbag company.
"At Celltrion, we're also doing a lot of business in the Oceania region and would also like to give back to its society by supporting golf tournaments," said Seo.
Celltrion has long been a staunch supporter of women’s golf in Korea. It has been sponsoring the Celltrion Queens Masters on the KLPGA Tour for four years now. The tournament carries a prize fund of KRW100,000,000.
Hyung Mo Kang, President of the Asia Pacific Golf Platform (APGP) welcomed the news and said: “We've already scheduled our next LAT Series event, ‘Hana Financial Group Singapore Women's Open’ in Singapore in December. Now that we have Celltrion joining us, AGLF's LAT Series is set to take another big step forward in the development of professional women's golf in the region."
This season’s LAT Series commenced in June with the 'DB Group 36th Korea Women Open’, followed by this week’s Simone Asia Pacific Cup.
The two other events lined up later this year include the KRW1,500,000,000 Hana Financial Group Championship, which is major event of the KLPGA Tour, at Bears Best Chungra Golf Club from September 29-October 2 and the Hana Financial Group Singapore Women’s Open.
LAT Series will expand to eight tournaments in 2023 with the addition of existing national Opens of Thailand and the Philippines. When the New Zealand event takes off in 2024, LAT Series is set to get even better with a 10-tournament schedule.
AGLF also announced during its summit meeting that the current AGLF executives will hold their positions for three years and has established its committee with the participating golf association members.
The forum has also appointed Aesook Kim from KPS and Lyn Yeo as its advisors. Kim represents Jiyae Shin and Sunwoo Bae in Japan, and is also KLPGA's official member (ID#: 35) while Yeo is a strong advocate of junior golf development in Singapore.
Princess revels in fairy tale win at Simone Asia Pacific Cup
Philippines' Princess Mary Superal celebrates her win at the inaugural Simone Asia Pacific Cup
Philippines' Princess Mary Superal held off some of the world's best golfers to claim her maiden professional international title at the inaugural Simone Asia Pacific Cup on Sunday.
The 25-year-old Princess fired a glorious five-under-par 67 to finish on 12-under-par 204 total, winning by three shots from former US Women's Open winner So Yeon Ryu of South Korea, who also closed with a 67.
World number four Lydia Ko, who trailed Princess by one at the start of the day, failed to mount a strong challenge as she signed for a 70 to finish four shots behind the champion.
"It's pretty special to me because this is my first international win as a professional," said Princess, who pocketed a cool USD $100,000 for the biggest paycheck of her career.
"I've been waiting for this moment to arrive. I'm very happy."
Playing alongside the more illustrious Ko, Princess showed no signs of nerves as she birdied three of the opening four holes to open a two-shot lead and never looked back since.
She picked up her fourth and fifth birdie of the day on holes 10 and 15 to finish with a bogey-free scorecard at the Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta, Indonesia.
"I approached the final round like the previous day. I was just minding my own business and really just wanted to focus on my game. That really helped me to secure this win."
"To be able to play with the world's top golfers, obviously I did feel nervous but happy at the same time. It's the first time I had this chance and I will cherish them," said the Filipino.
In the team competition, the title went to Team Korea 2 comprising of Ryu and Bomee Lee who recorded a 11-under-par winning total.
Not even a battling 75 from Lee could stop them from claiming a four-shot win over Princess and Pauline Del Rosario of Team Philippines. New Zealand’s Ko and Momoka Koburi came in third on five-under-par.
Ryu attributed the victory to her close friendship with Lee.
"As Bomee is playing mostly on the JLPGA Tour, we haven't played together for a while. Just being here as a team was really amazing."
"I had so much fun, she definitely helped me a lot when I struggled yesterday. So having a really good friendship definitely helped a lot to win this tournament," said Ryu.
With an individual title and team runners-up in the bag for the Philippines this week, Princess and Del Rosario have also certainly repaid the tremendous support shown by their countrymen.
This comes after a video of a Filipino idol group 'SB Talent Camp' performing the K-Cheer Challenge amassed a whopping 2.5 million views after it was posted just five days ago.
Princess to Queen for the day at Simone Asia Pacific Cup
Philippines' Princess Mary Superal
Philippines golfer Princess Mary Superal outshone her more illustrious rivals to snatch a surprise one-shot lead after the penultimate stage of the Simone Asia Pacific Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia on Friday.
The 25-year-old Princess, who started the day one shot off the pace, carded one-under-par 71 after making two birdies to offset a bogey to reach the 36-hole mark at seven-under 137, giving her a slender advantage over New Zealand's Lydia Ko.
The world number four battled to an ever-par 72 following a roller-coaster day at the Pondok Indah Golf Course which saw her mix three birdies with as many bogeys.
Bomee Lee of South Korea also shot a 72 to sit a further stroke back on 139, while compatriots So Yeon Ryu and Hyo Joo Kim were tied for fourth on matching 140s after going through contrasting fortunes.
While Kim fought back gallantly with a sparkling 68, Ryu stumbled to a 75 after marking her scorecard with five birdies, two bogeys and three double bogeys.
Rookie professional Youmin Hwang signed for a solid 70 for 141 to make it four South Koreans to feature inside the top-six on the individual leaderboard.
South Korea also ruled the top-two spots on the team standings, with Team Korea 2 featuring Lee and Ryu sitting in first place on nine-under overall, just two shots ahead of Kim and Hwang of Team Korea 1.
But the second day of the Simone Asia Pacific Cup clearly belonged to Princess, who continued to prove that she is no pushover against the heavyweights, including playing partners Ryu and Lee, who have won 46 professional titles between them.
"I was really happy when I knew that I was playing with So Yeon Ryu and Bo Mee Lee, I've known them for like a long time, I see them often on TV," said Princess, who responded to a bogey on hole nine with a pair of birdies on 13 and 16.
"I was really nervous, but I just want to learn from them and see them play."
Although overwhelmed to be playing alongside the big guns, Princess said the key to her solid display was 'minding her own business'.
"I was just minding my own business and just focusing on my own game, so that really helped me and that's what I'm going to do tomorrow."
Princess also stands a chance to contend for the team crown with partner Pauline Del Rosario as they trail Team Korea 2 by just three shots on three-under.
Ko was pleased with how she fought back late in play to head into the finale firmly on the ground.
"Overall, I wasn't as sharp as I was yesterday," said the two-time major winner, who secured a crucial birdie on 17.
"I didn't have as many birdie opportunities and I missed a couple of par putts. It was probably careless mistakes but I got a birdie on 17. It was kind of the day when I didn't really get anything going.
"Hopefully I'll take the positives from the last couple of days and put that all into action for tomorrow."
Ends.
Second round scores
137: Princess Mary SUPERAL (PHI) 66-71
138: Lydia KO (NZL) 66-72
139: Bo Mee LEE (KOR) 67-72
140: Hyo Joo KIM (KOR) 72-68, So Yeon RYU (KOR) 65-75
141: You Min HWANG (KOR) 71-70
143: Jaravee BOONCHANT (THA) 73-70, Patricia SINOLUNGAN [A] INA 71-72, Maria SHINOHARA (JPN) 71-72, Patcharajutar KONGKRAPHAN (THA) 70-73
South Korea's seasoned campaigner So Yeon Ryu fired a seven-under-par 65 to seize a one-shot lead after the opening round of the inaugural Simone Asia Pacific Cup in Indonesia on Thursday.
The 32-year-old reeled off seven birdies in a flawless round at the Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta.
World number four Lydia Ko of New Zealand, the highest-ranked player among the 44 competitors in the field, left it late with a glorious birdie-eagle finish for a bogey-free 66 to join Philippines' Princess Mary Superal in second spot.
Another South Korean Bo Mee Lee ended the opening day in outright fourth place, two off the pace after trading five birdies against a lone bogey on the par-three fifth.
Thailand's Patcharajutar Kongkraphan, the 2012 Indonesian Ladies Open champion, also enjoyed a solid start by carding a 70 to share fifth with Japan's Kokona Sakurai.
Ryu and Lee's combined individual brilliance, which yielded a blistering 12-under-par total, also inspired Team Korea 2 to a whopping nine-shot lead over Team Japan 2 comprising of Sakurai and Maria Shinohara (71) and Team Philippines made up of Princess and Pauline Del Rosario (73).
"To be honest, I was quite nervous this morning because I haven't represented my country for a while," said two-time major winner Ryu.
"I paired up with Bo Mee Lee, who's one of my good friends and I had a lot of fun playing with her and this helped me to relax.
"My putting was pretty great today and I’m always happy with a bogey-free round.
"At the back nine, the wind started to pick up. It was swirling and made it hard to read the wind direction. That's the reason why it was tough to create any birdie chances. But my putting was good enough to make a couple of birdies out there.
"I hope I can play like this tomorrow and also Saturday. But it's golf, you'll never know what's going to happen. I'm just going to give my best and enjoy this beautiful gold course as much as possible."
Ko, meanwhile, had a modest start on the front nine after she could only pick up a birdie.
But with the help of Indonesian rising star Jonathan Xavier Hartono, who is caddying for her this week, the 17-time LPGA Tour winner was able to turn things around on the back nine.
Jonathan, 18, is the world number 261 boys’ amateur who had won five junior domestic titles in succession recently.
"Jojo’s (Jonathan) great, he's a member of the Indonesian national team. He's super talented and just came off a tournament recently and played really well," said Ko, who is placed fourth on the team leaderboard with fellow Kiwi Momoka Kobori (76).
"It's great to have his advice even though my regular caddie is not here. He obviously knows this course very well. He has got a lot of knowledge and has been super helpful, especially on this kind of grass. I was able to learn from him.
"Overall, I hit the ball pretty consistently, I gave myself a lot of good looks. There were few putts that I felt I could have holed, but they didn’t end up falling,” added Ko.
Princess was delighted to return to the scene where she bagged a junior title back in 2015 and produced another fine display to give the more established stars a run for their money.
"I have fond memories of this course and am happy to be back here," said Princess.
"I hit my irons very well, my putting was also very good which led to this good score. For the next two days, I just have to focus on my own game and do what I have to do."
World Number eight Hyo Joo Kim could only muster an opening 72 to sit in a four-way tie for 10th.
Shibuno sisters ready for battle ahead of Simone Asia Pacific Cup
Japan's Hinako Shibuno enjoying her pro-am day at the Pondok Indah Golf Club
Japan's major champion Hinako Shibuno declared she is ready to contend for the inaugural USD$750,000 Simone Asia Pacific Cup title after rediscovering her form at the recent Women's British Open.
The 23-year-old, nicknamed the ‘Smiling Cinderella’, put a disappointing run of results behind her by finishing outright third in the major event that launched her stardom three years ago.
Before that, Hinako had missed five cuts in her last seven tournaments.
With her confidence boosted, Hinako is eager to carry the momentum into Pondok Indah Golf Course this week where she is set to do battle with fellow major winners Lydia Ko of New Zealand, Hyo Joo Kim and So Yeon Ryu of South Korea in the 44-woman contest.
"I think it's fair to say that that I've gotten back some of my form," said Hinako.
"I was able to put together four good rounds (at the British) Open, that's pleasing indeed.
"But what's important is to stabilise my form by getting a good run of results. I'm still trying to get my mental game to click well with my performance on the course. "
Hinako, a winner of six Japan LPGA Tour titles, is also excited about competing in the Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) Series for the first time.
"I agreed with the concept of supporting the growth of women's golf in this region and decided to participate. I'm really happy to be part of this week's tournament," said Hinako.
Hinako will have an added motivation to do well this week as she will be joining forces with her younger sister Kiriko, 19, for the first time where they look to mount a serious challenge for the team title.
Kiriko is still an amateur and plays collegiate golf in Japan.
"I'm so looking forward to it. It's going to be interesting how we're going to fare as a team. Individually, I will try my best not to lose to her!" laughed Hinako.
Kiriko described her maiden experience of playing alongside her elder sister as "refreshing".
"It's really refreshing. When I entered the golf scene as a junior, we never get to compete together because of our age gap," said Kiriko.
"Being four years apart means we didn't get to compete in the same division."
The 54-hole event, which tees off from August 18-20 at the Pondok Indah Golf Course, offers a competitive total prize fund of USD $750,000 that will be enjoyed by all 37 professionals from the 44-player field as it is a no-cut event.
K-pop star Song lend star power to Simone Asia Pacific Cup
Minkyung Song, former member of K-pop group SeeYa
◾ Multi-entertainer, Minkyung Song announced as the ambassador of the inaugural Simone Asia Pacific Cup
◾ Promotions of the event include Korean cheering song ‘Let’s go Korea’ dance challenge
◾ Special prizes await selected winners of the Simone Asia Pacific Pop Cheer Challenge.
Korean popular artist and actress Minkyung Song, former member of K-pop group SeeYa, will lend her star power to the ‘Simone Asia Pacific Cup’, to be held at Pondok Indah Golf Course from Jakarta, Indonesia from August 18-20, after being appointed the tournament’s official ambassador.
Song is widely regarded as a ballad singer with a very soulful voice. Some of her most popular hits include ‘Ahgaya’, ‘Now I can never see you’, ‘A good day’, ‘Shouldn’t have loved if like this’, ‘BByong BByong’.
To spice up the event, Song has initiated a promotional campaign – the ‘Simone Asia Pacific Pop Cheer Challenge’ – where she invites fans to post a video of them cheering for all 16 competing nations with their creatively choreographed dance performance.
As a start, a tutorial video of Song leading a “Let’s Go Korea” dance performance has been shared on the ‘Simone Asia Pacific Cup’s official Instagram account @apgp_official > Click here
Song has called on the fans to show their stuff and join in the fun in the spirit of cheering for their respective countries.
AGLF General-Secretary, Paul Park said: “I hope many fans in the APAC region will not only root for Soyeon Ryu, Bomee Lee, Hyojoo Kim and Youmin Hwang of Team Korea on the week of Korea’s Independence Day but also players from the other countries participating in the Simone Asia Pacific Cup.
"Hopefully, the promotional dance challenge will add to the already increasing K-golf interest and passion.”
In commemoration of South Korea’s 77th Independence Day, selected winners of the dance challenge will receive a 55-inch smart TV, 0914 luxury handbag, tournament t-shirt and hat, as well as ANEW golf pouch or ANEW golf hat and other exciting prizes.
The Simone Asia Pacific Cup will be contested by 44 players from 16 countries. JTBC Golf and Sports will broadcast the event live from August 18-19, while JTBC Golf channel will air the event from 5 pm to 9 pm. The final round will be broadcasted live on JTBC Golf from 12 pm to 4 pm South Korean time.
Lucrative cash purse awaits women golfers at Simone Asia Pacific Cup
Hole 12 at Pondok Indah Golf Course
The Simone Asia Pacific Cup will make its debut next week as one of the most lucrative women's golf tournaments in the South-East Asian region.
The 54-hole event, which tees off from August 18-20 at the Pondok Indah Golf Course, offers a competitive total prize fund of USD $750,000 that will be enjoyed by all 37 professionals from the 44-player field as it is a no-cut event.
The individual contest offers a prize purse of USD $500,000, with another USD $250,000 has been set aside for the team competition.
The individual champion is set to walk away with a USD $100,000 jackpot, while the runner-up takes home US$57,500.
A participant is guaranteed a minimum payout of USD $5,680, provided she completes all 54 holes over the three-day contest.
That is comparatively higher than the USD $3,707 and USD $4,051 cheques picked up by the last place finishers in LPGA events in Singapore and Thailand earlier this year.
All professional players who feature in the Simone Asia Pacific Cup can expect to cash in more bonuses through the remaining USD $250,000 that will be dispersed among the teams that finish inside the top-15.
The breakdown of the prize money distribution will be announced by the event organizers Asian Golf Leaders Forum (AGLF) in due course.
The tournament features a star-studded cast that includes Lydia Ko of New Zealand, Korean duo Hyo Joo Kim and So Yeon Ryu and Japan's Hinako Shibuno, boasting a combined six major titles in between them.
An explosive battle is likely to ensue with regional stars such as Thailand's Jaravee Boonchant, Australia's Cassie Porter, India's Diksha Dagar, Chinese Taipei's Cheng-Hsuan Shih and Malaysia's Natasha Andrea Oon will be out to prove that they are not pushovers against their more illustrious competitors.
Simone Asia Pacific Cup is part of the series of tournaments on the LAT Series, which teed off with its season-opening DB Group 36th Korea Women’s Open.
Other tournaments on the schedule include the KRW 1,500,000,000 Hana Bank Group Championship, which will take place in September and the Hana Financial Group Singapore Women’s Open in December.
Players hail playing opportunities in the Asia Pacific
Hong Kong's Tiffany Chan
Hong Kong’s Tiffany Chan, Thailand’s Jaravee Boonchant and Indonesia’s Tatiana Wijaya are thrilled with the prospects of playing in more tournaments in Asia for many years to come - thanks to the formation of the Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) Series, which continues to take shape with the staging of the inaugural Simone Asia Pacific Cup this week.
The USD $750,000 event, which tees off at the Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta, Indonesia on Thursday, is the second event of the LAT Series following the season-opening DB Group 36th Korea Women’s Open in June.
Other tournaments on the schedule include the KRW 1,500,000,000 Hana Bank Group Championship, which will take place in September and the Hana Financial Group Singapore Women’s Open in December.
The LAT Series, established by Asian Golf Leaders Forum (AGLF), aims to stage seven tournaments across the Asia Pacific region in 2023 before expanding the burgeoning circuit further into 10-tournament a season starting from 2024.
Chan, Hong Kong’s sole flag-bearer on the US LPGA Tour, hailed LAT Series as the game-changer for women’s golf in Asia and believes it has the potential to flourish into a highly-competitive and respectable circuit that the region can be proud of.
Chan, who travelled extensively throughout her professional career, wants to play her part in helping AGLF’s cause.
“We haven’t really had the chance to play in Asia after turning professional. Everyone is either trying to play in the States, Europe or any other Tour,” said Chan during the pre-tournament press conference on Tuesday.
“For myself, I did play a lot on the China Tour, Taiwan LPGA and every single Asian Tour event in all the countries. We are finally seeing women’s golf growing in Asia.
“The Tours have been established in the United States and it’s time to see great players from Asia coming back to play and grow the Tour which will become more well-known and recognised.
“I’m happy to see this and hopefully more of us can participate in the future and not only 44 of us this week.”
Tatiana echoed Chan’s sentiment and expressed her confidence that there will be more professional stars expected to emerge from this region with the playing opportunities provided by LAT.
Tatiana herself is a great example as she is one of the many aspiring women Asian golfers who had to base themselves in the United States to pursue their dream.
“For me personally, the issue that I face is the lack of tournaments in Asia. To pursue this career as an Indonesian, I have to go to the United States or the European Tour,” lamented Tatiana, who’s currently plying her trade on the Women’s All Pro Tour (WAPT), the third-tier circuit in the US.
“It’s so far and it requires a lot of time. Obviously, there’s the cost factor and you have to be far from your family. It does not make sense for every Asian player to go back and forth all the time.
“It’s expensive and you got to think about how you are going to be there for six months. With the Ladies Asian Tour, it has opened a lot of opportunities for us now.
“There’s no reason for us to go for it if we really want to pursue this career”.
Jaravee, a rookie professional who holds a card on Epson Tour, is game for more action in Asia even though her ultimate dream is to make it to the LPGA Tour.
She’s keen to contribute to the growth of women’s golf in Asia.
“I went to high school and college in the US. I got my Epson Tour card this year. I’ve been playing most of my golf in the United States and I do not have much experience playing golf in Asia,” said Jaravee.
“So, I’m very excited to see how much women’s golf has grown in Asia and how much it’ll be growing in the future. It has definitely opened more doors for Asian golfers to play close to home and against great players. Just excited to see more of these events.”
Ko and Kim play down favourite tags ahead of inaugural
Simone Asia Pacific Cup
L-R Tiffany Chan, Lydia Ko, So Yeon Ryu, Tatiana Wijaya, Jaravee Boochant, Hyo Joo Kim
Pre-tournament favourites Lydia Ko and Hyo Joo Kim both played down suggestions that the inaugural Simone Asia Pacific Cup, which begins on Thursday will turn out to be more than just a four-horse race between them alongside two other major winners Shibuno Hinako and So Yeon Ryu.
New Zealand’s Ko and South Korea’s Kim, the world number four and eight respectively, are the biggest names to grace the USD $750,000 showpiece at the Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta, Indonesia, alongside Japan’s Hinako and another South Korean Ryu, who boast a combined 29 US LPGA Tour victories under their belts.
But the 25-year-old Ko, winner of two major titles, was quick to point out that her reputation counts for nothing and she will still have to bring out their A-game if she Is to walk away victorious on her first visit to Indonesia on Saturday.
Ko added that she is also expecting stiff competition from the rest in the 44-woman field that includes some regional’s rising stars including Hong Kong’s Tiffany Chan, Thailand’s Jaravee Boonchant and even local hopeful Tatiana Wijaya.
With the tournament also featuring a national team competition where 16 nations are in the fray, Ko has no qualms it will serve as an added motivation and help to bring out the best in each competitor.
“There are more known names than others. But like any other event, anyone who has played golf knows you can never say just because you are world number four, that means I’m going to win,” said Ko, who will be on a mission to win her second title of the season after triumphing at the Gainbridge LPGA for her 17th LPGA Tour title in January.
“All of us will have good and bad days. Those good days can be this week and our bad days could also be this week as well.
“The world’s best players are here representing their countries. We want to win for our country whether it’s the individual or team event. I don’t think it’s going to be all about us.
“There may be a higher probability just because of our ranking. But we cannot take out other players just because they are less experienced or because they are less well known,” added the New Zealander.
On a lighter note, Ko has reassured her fans that she has no intention to hang up her clubs just yet despite her impending wedding.
Ko has been reportedly engaged to her sweetheart Chung Jun, and the couple is expected to tie the knot later this year.
“I don’t think there will be many changes to my schedule. I’m really thankful for my fiancé and my family who have been super supportive. As much as I want it, they also want me to finish my career well at the time I want to,” said Ko.
“As a golfer and person, I’m thankful and gives me lots of motivation to work hard when I’m competing and enjoying my time off as well.
“Getting married is not going to change my schedule and it’s going to remain the same.”
Like Ko, Kim will also be seeking her second title of the year after claiming her fifth LPGA Tour victory at the Lotte Championship in April.
But the South Korean is taking nothing for granted despite being the top-two ranked golfers this week.
“World ranking does not necessarily guarantee a good score,” she stressed.
“Every player is talented and we do not know who will win. Everyone will do their best.”
Being a regular on LPGA Tour and KLPGA Tour back home, Kim also expressed her excitement on her first visit to Indonesia and compete with unfamiliar competitors from the Asia-Pacific region.
“This is my first time in Indonesia and I’m very happy to be able to participate and play with other players. I’m looking forward to having a fun and enjoyable week. We are representing our countries, so that’s a huge motivation for us too,” she said.
◾ Japan’s Shibuno Hinako adds depth to the illustrious field that already features Lydia Ko, Soyeon Ryu and Hyojoo Kim
◾ Excitement builds up with four Major champions ready to battle it out for the championship
Japan’s Shibuno Hinako, the 2019 AIG Women’s British Open champion, is the latest star to commit to the inaugural Simone Asia Pacific Cup which tees off at the Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta, Indonesia from August 18-20.
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko and South Korean duo Hyojoo Kim and Soyeon Ryu, who boast a total of five Major titles between them, have already confirmed their participation at the inaugural tournament which boasts a lucrative prize purse of USD$ 750,000.
Nicknamed the ‘Smiling Cinderella’, Hinako first shot to worldwide stardom when she captured the 2019 AIG Women’s British Open in what was her first tournament outside Japan back then. The feat made her the first Japanese Major winner in 42 years since Hisako Higuchi.
A six-time winner on the LPGA of Japan Tour, Hinako only made her full season debut on the LPGA Tour this year after earning her card through the Qualifying School.
She has enjoyed an impressive start by posting three top-10 finishes, with her best result being a runner-up finish to Kim at the Lotte Championship in Hawaii in April.
With her current rich vein of form, Kim, the world number nine, will be the one to look out for at the Simone Asia Pacific Cup. She has posted two top-five finishes in the last two Major starts including a tied-third result at the Amundi Evian Championship last week. Kim won the Amundi Evian Championship in 2014 for her sole Major title to date.
Fans will also be relishing the prospects of seeing Ryu and Ko, who are both two-time Major winners, teeing it up in Jakarta for the first time.
Ryu secured her maiden Major breakthrough when she captured the 2011 US Women’s Open before adding a second by winning the 2017 ANA Inspiration. The LPGA Tour’s 2017 Player of the Year has six LPGA Tour wins under her belt.
Ko, meanwhile, is the highest-ranked player in the field. The world number four has already won 17 tournaments including two Major victories she attained at the 2015 Evian Championship, and 2016 ANA Inspiration.
All four Major champions will be under no illusion that they will have it easy in Jakarta, knowing they are going to be challenged by some of the most talented players such as the South Korean pair of Bomee Lee and Youmin Hwang, American Yealimi Noh, Thailand’s Jaravee Boonchant, Hong Kong’s Tiffany Chan and Indonesia’s very own Tatiana Wijaya.
Unlike other regular golf tournaments, Simone Asia Pacific Cup features a ground-breaking format where all 44 players form 22 teams and play for their countries too. It is a 54-hole stroke play tournament, with scores from individual players added and counted towards the team scores. The individual contest offers a prize purse of USD $500,000 while USD $250,000 has been allocated for the team competition.
Paul Park, Secretary General of Asian Golf Leaders Forum said: “We are very excited now that Shibuno Hinako’s entry has been confirmed. The rematch between Hinako and Kim after their clash in Hawaii could also be a mouth-watering affair for all golf fans. The stellar field, along with the best players from the region, will certainly make this inaugural event a highly-anticipated one.”
Simone Group President Eungwan Kenny Park said: “We are looking forward to the start of the Simone Asia Pacific Cup as it promises to be a world-class golfing spectacle that will delight all golf fans. It will be an intriguing contest between several of the world’s best players and Asia’s finest in Jakarta and we cannot wait for it to get underway in three weeks.”
About Simone
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About Ladies Asian Tour Series
Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) Series is a group of ladies professional golf tournaments in Asia for Asian ladies’ golfers created by a coalition among sanctioning bodies in the region of Asia. The purpose of Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) Series is to create Asia's own series by not interfering with sanctioning bodies in this region, but by promoting women's golf at a more competitive level in order to secure more fans for Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) series.
About Asia Golf Leaders Forum
Asia Golf Leaders Forum (AGLF) is a non-profit corporation, led by four founders Mr. Jung-Tai Kim of Hana Financial Group, Mr. Gwang-Soo Hur of Korea Golf Association (KGA), Mr. Sang-Yeol Kim of Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA), and Mr. Kenny Park of Simone. With a mutual understanding with the R&A and golf associations in Asia such as Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, AGLF's mission is to unite all the Asian golf associations and create synergies to boost Asian golf to a global arena. Together with corporate partners, the AGLF is working to establish and grow Asia's own series of women’s golf by co-developing with existing tournaments or establishing new tournaments in countries across Asia. R&A has put its support behind AGLF and LAT for this new milestone in Asian Golf.
About Korea Golf Association
Korea Golf Association (KGA) is a governing body of golf in Korea that organises three (3) national open championships such as the Korea Open, the Korea Women's Open and the Korea Senior Open as well as approximately 20 amateur events annually. The KGA was established in 1965, and supported by a few golf clubs here in Korea. The KGA was affiliated with a member of the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) in 1965 and the International Golf Federation (IGF) in 1968. The KGA is consist of seventeen (17) regional golf associations, four (4) affiliated golf associations and ninety-three (93) member golf clubs. The KGA has achieved proud results by winning the 2016 Rio Olympic Women's individual, World Amateur Team Championships and other international events and also produced proud players such as K.J Choi, Seri Pak, Inbee Park and Sungjae Im who was the Rookie of the year for the 2018-19 PGA tour.
About Asia Pacific Golf Platform
The Asia Pacific Golf Platform (APGP) is a corporate subsidiary of the Asia Golf Leaders Forum (AGLF), founded to execute business opportunities coinciding with the operations of the AGLF. Led by President Kang Hyungmo, a board director of the AGLF and the former vice-chairman of the Korea Golf Association, and Secretary-General Paul Park, also the secretary-general of the AGLF and director of Hana Financial Group Sports, the APGP is currently organising the Asia Pacific Golf Platform 2022 to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia from Aug. 15th to the 20th. The Asia Pacific Golf Platform 2022 will be a monumental week signifying the grand start of the AGLF’s and APGP’s mission: to unify the players and national associations of the Asia Pacific and create a platform where they can further promote and develop women’s golf in the region. To further emphasise this goal and mission, the APGP has promised to donate USD$250,000 of the total prize purse from the Simone Asia Pacific Cup (set to be held during the Asia Pacific Golf Platform 2022) and distribute it evenly to each participating APAC national golf association for them to invest and further develop the game in their own countries. The APGP plans to be involved in future AGLF Ladies Asia Tour (LAT) Series events and will help stimulate more business opportunities to then reinvest back and help grow women’s golf in Asia-Pacific.
Regional stars ready to shine at inaugural Simone Asia Pacific Cup
India's Diksha Dagar
A formidable line-up of regional rising stars will gather for the inaugural staging of the Simone Asia Pacific Cup which will be held at Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta, Indonesia from August 18-20.
Thailand's Jaravee Boonchant, Australia's Cassie Porter, India's Diksha Dagar, Chinese Taipei's Cheng-Hsuan Shih and Malaysia's Natasha Andrea Oon are among the names to look out for in the US$750,000 event as they seek to provide stiff competition to big names such as Lydia Ko of New Zealand, Korean duo Hyo Joo Kim and So Yeon Ryu and Japan's Hinako Shibuno.
These are aspiring players who are climbing up the ranks through various circuits worldwide, including the Ladies European Tour (LET), Epson Tour (LPGA developmental circuit), as well as local flagship tours of China, Taiwan, Thailand and Australasia.
Shortly after joining the play-for-pay ranks last year, Jaravee made a swift impact by capturing the Thailand LPGA Master, the Thai LPGA Tour season-ending tournament, for her maiden professional victory.
The 23-year-old is currently plying her trade on the Epson Tour, where she aims to secure her LPGA Tour card with a top 10 finish on the money list at the end of the season. She's presently placed 26th.
Porter is another up-and-coming professional hoping to put her ability to the test in Jakarta, after proving her worth back home.
In her rookie season on the WPGA of Australasia, she secured nine top-10 finishes from 10 starts, highlighted by two runner-up results and tying for creditable fourth in the LET jointly-sanctioned Women's NSW Open.
Shih has been one of the consistent performers of the LPGA Tour of Taiwan this season where she is currently ranked fifth on the Order of Merit, following two runner-up finishes. She is also a one-time winner on the TLPGA.
Oon, who is barely a few months into her professional career, will want to use Simone Asia Pacific Cup as her stepping stone.
She's looking to reproduce the same kind of success enjoyed during her splendid amateur career where she was ranked a career-best number seven in the world.
In May, Oon stood out as one of the best collegiate golfers in the US, finishing solo second in the NCAA Championship.
Tatiana Jaqueline Wijaya will spearhead a strong six-player contingent that comprise also Ida Ayu Indira Melati Putri and Dea Martika Mahendra as they aim to impress in the first international women's golf tournament on their home soil since the Ladies Indonesia Open in 2012.
Unlike other regular golf tournaments, Simone Asia Pacific Cup features a ground-breaking format where all 43 players form 22 teams and play for their countries too. It is a 54-hole stroke play tournament, with scores from individual players added and counted towards the team scores. The individual contest offers a prize purse of USD $500,000 while USD $250,000 has been allocated for the team competition.
Simone Asia Pacific Cup is part of the series of tournaments on the LAT Series, which teed off with its season-opening DB Group 36th Korea Women’s Open. Other tournaments on the schedule include the KRW 1,500,000,000 Hana Bank Group Championship, which will take place in September and the Hana Financial Group Singapore Women’s Open in December.
With the inclusion of already existing tournaments from Thailand and the Philippines, the LAT Series is set to have seven tournaments in 2023 and 10 tournaments in 2024.
Discussions with the Japan Golf Association (JGA) are currently underway and further opinions from the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA) are also being taken into account.
For entry list and team formation, please click here.
About Simone
Title sponsor Simone is the leading global company in the luxury fashion industry. It provides its customers with a full service of manufacturing based on industrialised craftsmanship standards. Simone is also the number one luxury bag Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) in the world. Details of Simone's products and services are available on their official website, www.simone.co.kr
About Ladies Asian Tour Series
Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) Series is a group of ladies professional golf tournaments in Asia for Asian ladies’ golfers created by a coalition among sanctioning bodies in the region of Asia. The purpose of Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) Series is to create Asia's own series by not interfering with sanctioning bodies in this region, but by promoting women's golf at a more competitive level in order to secure more fans for Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) series.
About Asia Golf Leaders Forum
Asia Golf Leaders Forum (AGLF) is a non-profit corporation, led by four founders Mr. Jung-Tai Kim of Hana Financial Group, Mr. Gwang-Soo Hur of Korea Golf Association (KGA), Mr. Sang-Yeol Kim of Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA), and Mr. Kenny Park of Simone. With a mutual understanding with the R&A and golf associations in Asia such as Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, AGLF's mission is to unite all the Asian golf associations and create synergies to boost Asian golf to a global arena. Together with corporate partners, the AGLF is working to establish and grow Asia's own series of women’s golf by co-developing with existing tournaments or establishing new tournaments in countries across Asia. R&A has put its support behind AGLF and LAT for this new milestone in Asian Golf.
About Korea Golf Association
Korea Golf Association (KGA) is a governing body of golf in Korea that organises three (3) national open championships such as the Korea Open, the Korea Women's Open and the Korea Senior Open as well as approximately 20 amateur events annually. The KGA was established in 1965, and supported by a few golf clubs here in Korea. The KGA was affiliated with a member of the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) in 1965 and the International Golf Federation (IGF) in 1968. The KGA is consist of seventeen (17) regional golf associations, four (4) affiliated golf associations and ninety-three (93) member golf clubs. The KGA has achieved proud results by winning the 2016 Rio Olympic Women's individual, World Amateur Team Championships and other international events and also produced proud players such as K.J Choi, Seri Pak, Inbee Park and Sungjae Im who was the Rookie of the year for the 2018-19 PGA tour.
About Asia Pacific Golf Platform
The Asia Pacific Golf Platform (APGP) is a corporate subsidiary of the Asia Golf Leaders Forum (AGLF), founded to execute business opportunities coinciding with the operations of the AGLF. Led by President Kang Hyungmo, a board director of the AGLF and the former vice-chairman of the Korea Golf Association, and Secretary-General Paul Park, also the secretary-general of the AGLF and director of Hana Financial Group Sports, the APGP is currently organising the Asia Pacific Golf Platform 2022 to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia from Aug. 15th to the 20th. The Asia Pacific Golf Platform 2022 will be a monumental week signifying the grand start of the AGLF’s and APGP’s mission: to unify the players and national associations of the Asia Pacific and create a platform where they can further promote and develop women’s golf in the region. To further emphasise this goal and mission, the APGP has promised to donate USD$250,000 of the total prize purse from the Simone Asia Pacific Cup (set to be held during the Asia Pacific Golf Platform 2022) and distribute it evenly to each participating APAC national golf association for them to invest and further develop the game in their own countries. The APGP plans to be involved in future AGLF Ladies Asia Tour (LAT) Series events and will help stimulate more business opportunities to then reinvest back and help grow women’s golf in Asia-Pacific.
Inaugural Simone Asia Pacific Cup set to make debut on
Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) series in Indonesia
South Korea's Jung Ji Yu teeing off at a Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) Series event Photo Credit: Korea Golf Association
Seoul: The inaugural Simone Asia Pacific Cup will make its debut at the Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta, Indonesia from August 18-20. It will be the first international event outside South Korea where individuals and teams from 15 countries battle it out for a lucrative prize purse of US$750,000.
The Simone Asia Pacific Cup brings together teams from 15 APAC golf associations, including Japan, China, Australia and New Zealand. They will compete in team and individual events in the 54-hole stroke play tournament.
Full details of players and teams will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Asia Pacific Golf Platform (APGP), a corporate subsidiary of the Asia Golf Leaders Forum (AGLF) which founded the LAT Series, will oversee the commercial and operational functions of the Simone Asia Pacific Cup and the LAT Series.
APGP President, Kang Hyungmo, former Vice-President of the Korea Professional Golf Association (KPGA), said: “APGP is pleased the inaugural Simone Asia Pacific Cup will be making its debut in Indonesia in August. It heralds the dawn of an exciting era for the LAT Series in the region. With the rising strength of women’s golf from the Asia Pacific, the tournament will be an excellent showpiece for the global audience.
“We are confident the LAT Series will become the hub and focus for women’s golf in the Asia Pacific. We are grateful to the R&A for their support in ensuring the smooth running of the tournament and also for the opportunity to work together with the various golf associations in the region.”
Simone Asia Pacific Cup is part of the series of tournaments on the LAT Series, which teed off with its season-opening DB Group 36th Korea Women’s Open. Other tournaments on the schedule include the KRW 1,500,000,000 Hana Bank Group Championship, which will take place in September and the Hana Financial Group Singapore Women’s Open in December.
With the inclusion of already existing tournaments from Thailand and the Philippines, the LAT Series is set to have seven tournaments in 2023 and 10 tournaments in 2024. Discussions with the Japan Golf Association (JGA) is currently underway and further opinions from the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA) is also being taken into account.
About Ladies Asian Tour Series
Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) Series is a group of ladies' professional golf tournaments in Asia for Asian ladies’ golfers created by a coalition among sanctioning bodies in the region of Asia. The purpose of Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) Series is to create Asia's own series by not interfering with sanctioning bodies in this region, but by promoting women's golf at a more competitive level in order to secure more fans for Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) series.
About Asia Golf Leaders Forum
Asia Golf Leaders Forum (AGLF) is a non-profit corporation, led by four founders Mr. Jung-Tai Kim of Hana Financial Group, Mr. Gwang-Soo Hur of Korea Golf Association (KGA), Mr. Sang-Yeol Kim of Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA), and Mr. Kenny Park of Simone. With a mutual understanding with the R&A and golf associations in Asia such as Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, AGLF's mission is to unite all the Asian golf associations and create synergies to boost Asian golf to a global arena. Together with corporate partners, the AGLF is working to establish and grow Asia's own series of women’s golf by co-developing with existing tournaments or establishing new tournaments in countries across Asia. R&A has put its support behind AGLF and LAT for this new milestone in Asian Golf.
About Korea Golf Association
Korea Golf Association (KGA) is a governing body of golf in Korea that organises three (3) national open championships such as the Korea Open, the Korea Women's Open and the Korea Senior Open as well as approximately 20 amateur events annually. The KGA was established in 1965, and supported by a few golf clubs here in Korea. The KGA was affiliated with a member of the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) in 1965 and the International Golf Federation (IGF) in 1968. The KGA is consist of seventeen (17) regional golf associations, four (4) affiliated golf associations and ninety-three (93) member golf clubs. The KGA has achieved proud results by winning the 2016 Rio Olympic Women's individual, World Amateur Team Championships and other international events and also produced proud players such as K.J Choi, Seri Pak, Inbee Park and Sungjae Im who was the Rookie of the year for the 2018-19 PGA tour.
About Asia Pacific Golf Platform
The Asia Pacific Golf Platform (APGP) is a corporate subsidiary of the Asia Golf Leaders Forum (AGLF), founded to execute business opportunities coinciding with the operations of the AGLF. Led by President Kang Hyungmo, a board director of the AGLF and the former vice-chairman of the Korea Golf Association, and Secretary-General Paul Park, also the secretary-general of the AGLF and director of Hana Financial Group Sports, the APGP is currently organising the Asia Pacific Golf Platform 2022 to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia from Aug. 15th to the 20th. The Asia Pacific Golf Platform 2022 will be a monumental week signifying the grand start of the AGLF’s and APGP’s mission: to unify the players and national associations of the Asia Pacific and create a platform where they can further promote and develop women’s golf in the region. To further emphasise this goal and mission, the APGP has promised to donate USD$250,000 of the total prize purse from the Simone Asia Pacific Cup (set to be held during the Asia Pacific Golf Platform 2022) and distribute it evenly to each participating APAC national golf association for them to invest and further develop the game in their own countries. The APGP plans to be involved in future AGLF Ladies Asia Tour (LAT) Series events and will help stimulate more business opportunities to then reinvest back and help grow women’s golf in Asia-Pacific.
Ko and Kim to headline inaugural Simone Asia Pacific Cup
South Korea's Hyojoo Kim
◾ The star-studded field will battle for both personal and nation’s glory at Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta, Indonesia this August.
◾ 20 teams and 40 players from 15 Asia Pacific countries will compete for a lucrative prize purse of USD $750,000.00
Major winners Lydia Ko of New Zealand and South Korea’s Hyojoo Kim are set to lend their star credentials to the inaugural Simone Asia Pacific Cup from August 18-20.
Currently ranked fifth and eighth on the Women’s World Golf Rankings, Ko and Kim are the highest-ranked players in the USD $750,000 showdown scheduled to take place at the Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The Pondok Indah Golf Course (Par-72) is considered the most reputable course in Indonesia. It has also hosted the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta-Palembang.
The 40-woman field also boasts several established names such as Soyeon Ryu, who has six LPGA Tour and 10 KLPGA wins to her name, Bomee Lee, a 21-time JLPGA winner, as well as up-and-coming young guns Yealimi Noh of the United States, who finished an impressive third at the Evian Championship last year.
Youmin Hwang, the current world number three amateur, New Zealand’s rookie professional Momoka Kobori together with Tiffany Chan, Hong Kong’s sole representative on the LPGA Tour, have also confirmed their participation.
Expect a pulsating battle between these players as they will not only be playing for personal glory but also their country’s honour with the Simone Asia Pacific Cup bringing together teams from 15 APAC golf associations, including Japan, China, Australia and New Zealand to Indonesia.
The tournament features a 54-hole stroke play format, offering a prize purse of USD $500,000 for the individual contest and USD $250,000 for team competition. The winner will also receive a specially designed unique Boston bag by Simone.
Title sponsor Simone, which has a 10% global market share in the world luxury bag industry, has been the number one Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) in the world and a sponsor of the ‘Hana Financial Group Championship’ for the last decade.
President Eungwan Park, in becoming one of the AGLF founders has led to Simone creating this tournament.
South Korea, represented by Ryu and Lee, and Kim and Hwang, will be the teams to watch. But they can expect a stiff challenge from New Zealand with Ko looking forward to teaming up with Kobori, who was a recipient of her Lydia Ko scholarship back in 2016.
Kobori, who is in her second year as a professional, has already made an impact in the play-for-pay ranks by winning four titles, including two on the LET Access Series, the second-tier circuit in Europe.
APGP President, Kang Hyungmo, former Vice-President of the Korean Professional Golf
Association (KPGA), said: “We are looking forward to hosting our first ever competition in Indonesia and we’re already putting in our best efforts to stage a quality event. We are also confident this competition will contribute to the development of women’s golf in this region.”
Simone Asia Pacific Cup is part of the series of tournaments on the Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) Series, which teed off with its season-opening DB Group 36th Korea Women’s Open in June.
Other tournaments on the schedule include the KRW 1,500,000,000 Hana Bank Group Championship, which will take place in September and the Hana Financial Group Singapore Women’s Open in December.
The LAT series is projected to host existing tournaments from Thailand and the Philippines. Seven tournaments are expected to be organized by the Asia Pacific Golf Platform (APGP) in 2023, expanding to 10 tournaments in 2024.
During the tournament week, presidents from 15 APAC golf associations will attend the APAC Golf Summit as well as the APAC Women’s Golf Conference, which R&A will be joint-hosting with the AGLF. These conferences will bring together industry leaders where there will be deep discussions on developing and energising women’s golf in the Asia Pacific.
About Ladies Asian Tour Series
Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) Series is a group of ladies' professional golf tournaments in Asia for Asian ladies’ golfers created by a coalition among sanctioning bodies in the region of Asia. The purpose of Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) Series is to create Asia's own series by not interfering with sanctioning bodies in this region, but by promoting women's golf at a more competitive level in order to secure more fans for Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) series.
About Asia Golf Leaders Forum
Asia Golf Leaders Forum (AGLF) is a non-profit corporation, led by four founders Mr. Jung-Tai Kim of Hana Financial Group, Mr. Gwang-Soo Hur of Korea Golf Association (KGA), Mr. Sang-Yeol Kim of Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA), and Mr. Kenny Park of Simone. With a mutual understanding with the R&A and golf associations in Asia such as Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, AGLF's mission is to unite all the Asian golf associations and create synergies to boost Asian golf to a global arena. Together with corporate partners, the AGLF is working to establish and grow Asia's own series of women’s golf by co-developing with existing tournaments or establishing new tournaments in countries across Asia. R&A has put its support behind AGLF and LAT for this new milestone in Asian Golf.
About Korea Golf Association
Korea Golf Association (KGA) is a governing body of golf in Korea that organises three (3) national open championships such as the Korea Open, the Korea Women's Open and the Korea Senior Open as well as approximately 20 amateur events annually. The KGA was established in 1965, and supported by a few golf clubs here in Korea. The KGA was affiliated with a member of the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) in 1965 and the International Golf Federation (IGF) in 1968. The KGA is consist of seventeen (17) regional golf associations, four (4) affiliated golf associations and ninety-three (93) member golf clubs. The KGA has achieved proud results by winning the 2016 Rio Olympic Women's individual, World Amateur Team Championships and other international events and also produced proud players such as K.J Choi, Seri Pak, Inbee Park and Sungjae Im who was the Rookie of the year for the 2018-19 PGA tour.
About Asia Pacific Golf Platform
The Asia Pacific Golf Platform (APGP) is a corporate subsidiary of the Asia Golf Leaders Forum (AGLF), founded to execute business opportunities coinciding with the operations of the AGLF. Led by President Kang Hyungmo, a board director of the AGLF and the former vice-chairman of the Korea Golf Association, and Secretary-General Paul Park, also the secretary-general of the AGLF and director of Hana Financial Group Sports, the APGP is currently organising the Asia Pacific Golf Platform 2022 to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia from Aug. 15th to the 20th. The Asia Pacific Golf Platform 2022 will be a monumental week signifying the grand start of the AGLF’s and APGP’s mission: to unify the players and national associations of the Asia Pacific and create a platform where they can further promote and develop women’s golf in the region. To further emphasise this goal and mission, the APGP has promised to donate USD$250,000 of the total prize purse from the Simone Asia Pacific Cup (set to be held during the Asia Pacific Golf Platform 2022) and distribute it evenly to each participating APAC national golf association for them to invest and further develop the game in their own countries. The APGP plans to be involved in future AGLF Ladies Asia Tour (LAT) Series events and will help stimulate more business opportunities to then reinvest back and help grow women’s golf in Asia-Pacific.
Seoul: The inaugural Simone Asia Pacific Cup will make its debut at the Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta, Indonesia from August 18-20. It will be the first international event outside South Korea where individuals and teams from 15 countries battle it out for a lucrative prize purse of US$750,000.
The Simone Asia Pacific Cup brings together teams from 15 APAC golf associations, including Japan, China, Australia and New Zealand. They will compete in team and individual events in the 54-hole stroke play tournament.
Full details of players and teams will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Asia Pacific Golf Platform (APGP), a corporate subsidiary of the Asia Golf Leaders Forum (AGLF) which founded the LAT Series, will oversee the commercial and operational functions of the Simone Asia Pacific Cup and the LAT Series.
APGP President, Kang Hyungmo, former Vice-President of the Korea Professional Golf Association(KPGA), said: “APGP is pleased the inaugural Simone Asia Pacific Cup will be making its debut in Indonesia in August. It heralds the dawn of an exciting era for the LAT Series in the region. With the rising strength of women’s golf from the Asia Pacific, the tournament will be an excellent showpiece for the global audience.
“We are confident the LAT Series will become the hub and focus for women’s golf in the Asia Pacific. We are grateful to the R&A for their support in ensuring the smooth running of the tournament and also
for the opportunity to work together with the various golf associations in the region.”
Simone Asia Pacific Cup is part of the series of tournaments on the LAT Series, which teed off with its season-opening DB Group 36th Korea Women’s Open. Other tournaments on the schedule include the
KRW 1,500,000,000 Hana Bank Group Championship, which will take place in September and the Hana Financial Group Singapore Women’s Open in December.
With the inclusion of already existing tournaments from Thailand and the Philippines, the LAT Series is set to have seven tournaments in 2023 and 10 tournaments in 2024. Discussions with the Japan Golf Association (JGA) is currently underway and further opinions from the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA) is also being taken into account.
Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) Series is a group of ladies' professional golf tournaments in Asia for Asian ladies’ golfers created by a coalition among sanctioning bodies in the region of Asia. The purpose of Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) Series is to create Asia's own series by not interfering with sanctioning bodies in this region, but by promoting women's golf at a more competitive level in order to secure more fans for Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) series.
About Asia Golf Leaders Forum
Asia Golf Leaders Forum (AGLF) is a non-profit corporation, led by four founders Mr. Jung-Tai Kim of Hana Financial Group, Mr. Gwang-Soo Hur of Korea Golf Association (KGA), Mr. Sang-Yeol Kim of Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA), and Mr. Kenny Park of Simone. With a mutual understanding with the R&A and golf associations in Asia such as Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, AGLF's mission is to unite all the Asian golf associations and create synergies to boost Asian golf to a global arena. Together with corporate partners, the AGLF is working to establish and grow Asia's own series of women’s golf by co-developing with existing tournaments or establishing new tournaments in countries across Asia. R&A has put its support behind AGLF and LAT for this new milestone in Asian Golf.
About Korea Golf Association
Korea Golf Association (KGA) is a governing body of golf in Korea that organises three (3) national open championships such as the Korea Open, the Korea Women's Open and the Korea Senior Open as well as approximately 20 amateur events annually. The KGA was established in 1965, and supported by a few golf clubs here in Korea. The KGA was affiliated with a member of the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) in 1965 and the International Golf Federation (IGF) in 1968. The KGA is consist of seventeen (17) regional golf associations, four (4) affiliated golf associations and ninety-three (93) member golf clubs. The KGA has achieved proud results by winning the 2016 Rio Olympic Women's individual, World Amateur Team Championships and other international events and also produced proud players such as K.J Choi, Seri Pak, Inbee Park and Sungjae Im who was the Rookie of the year for the 2018-19 PGA tour.
About Asia Pacific Golf Platform
The Asia Pacific Golf Platform (APGP) is a corporate subsidiary of the Asia Golf Leaders Forum (AGLF), founded to execute business opportunities coinciding with the operations of the AGLF. Led by President Kang Hyungmo, a board director of the AGLF and the former vice-chairman of the Korea Golf Association, and Secretary-General Paul Park, also the secretary-general of the AGLF and director of Hana Financial Group Sports, the APGP is currently organising the Asia Pacific Golf Platform 2022 to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia from Aug. 15th to the 20th. The Asia Pacific Golf Platform 2022 will be a monumental week signifying the grand start of the AGLF’s and APGP’s mission: to unify the players and national associations of the Asia Pacific and create a platform where they can further promote and develop women’s golf in the region. To further emphasise this goal and mission, the APGP has promised to donate USD$250,000 of the total prize purse from the Simone Asia Pacific Cup (set to be held during the Asia Pacific Golf Platform 2022) and distribute it evenly to each participating APAC national golf association for them to invest and further develop the game in their own countries. The APGP plans to be involved in future AGLF Ladies Asia Tour (LAT) Series events and will help stimulate more business opportunities to then reinvest back and help grow women’s golf in Asia-Pacific.
