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XIAMEN, China, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- As China LPGA tournament, co-sponsored with the Ladies European Tour (LET), 2016 Xiamen Open International kicked off here on Thursday and the players decide to donate 10 percent of the prize money for local typhoon victims.
After Typhoon Meranti hit the picturesque Fujian province coastal city a month ago, the green keepers worked overtime to rehabilitate the host venue. Hundreds of trees were felled by the super storm, inflicting heavy damage to the layout and putting the tournament in jeopardy.
With the venue back to tournament conditions, players from the two tours support the storm victims by donating 10 percent of the prize money this week to a local charity.
Yeom Hye-in goes into the tournament as the defending champion as the South Korean captured her maiden victory last year with a commanding five-stroke win.
Others in the field this week include France's Isabelle Boineau, currently fourth on the LET Order of Merit, and rising Chinese Taipei star Cheng Ssu-chia, winner of the inaugural 2014 Xiamen Open International and joint runner-up last year.
This year, the 18-year-old Cheng has played 16 events on the US LPGA Tour and will attempt to get full playing status by earning her card through the qualifying school.
Among the top Chinese mainland players looking to keep the trophy on home soil are Feng Simin and Shi Yuting.
Feng has successfully retained her playing card stateside for next year and expects a strong challenge from the LET players this week. Shi comes into Xiamen after winning the China National Team Championship individual title last month. In March she captured her first win as a pro with a victory in Zhuhai.
The tournament will be live broadcasted nationwide from Day 2 and will end on Sunday.
