Players eye top-tier prize in Suzhou

As the Mitsubishi Electric Automation Women's Open tees off on Thursday in Jiangsu province, the 25 million yen ($168,200) tournament marks a new era in cooperation for the CLPG Tour, as it is the first co-sponsored event with the Ladies Professional Golf Association of Japan (JLPGA).

With the 54-hole tournament running through Saturday at Suzhou Taihu International Golf Club, the field features about 45 players from each tour, in addition to 18 sponsor invites.

Importantly, with most of the players in the field from the CLPG Tour, a circuit which has been providing pro golf platforms in China since 2009, and the JLPGA players mostly coming from its Step Up Tour development circuit, the tournament is offering a key incentive for those looking to raise their game to the next level.