Feng Shanshan headlines China Ladies Open

BEIJING -- LPGA Championship winner Feng Shanshan of China will spearhead a group of local stars to challenge some of the best women golfers from the Korean LPGA at the Hyundai China Ladies Open from Dec 13-15, organizers said on Thursday.

As the final stop of the 2013 Chinese LPGA Tour, the China Ladies Open will offer record prize money of $400,000 at the Shizi Lake Golf Club in Qingyuan, Guangdong province.

The CLPGA and KLPGA co-sanctioned tournament will also attract the top 40 ranked golfers from South Korea, including the KLPGA's order of merit leader Jang Ha-na and two-time champion Kim Hye-youn.

South Korean golfers have dominated the tournament since its debut in 2006, but the 24-year-old Feng, who won the season-ending LPGA Titleholders tournament in Florida last month to capture her third career tour crown, is expected to break the Koreans' monopoly.

Feng is not alone, as rising young stars Li Jiayun and CLPGA champion Lin Xiyu are potential contenders for the title after a successful season on the CLPGA.

The China LPGA Tour tournament has been a good barometer for future success.

Former world No 1 Tseng Ya-ni from Chinese Taipei, South Korea's Choi Na-yeon, 2012 British Open winner Shin Ji-yai and 2012 Evian Masters champion Park In-bee all competed at the event before rising to stardom on the LPGA Tour.