The sixth edition of the World Ladies Championship with SBS (WLC) will return to Mission Hills Haikou on Hainan Island in China next week, from March 17 to 19, and will again be played on the highly acclaimed Blackstone Race.

Gwladys Nocera - © Paul Lakatos / Mission Hills

With Korean Jung-Min Lee confirmed to defend her title, which she won by one stroke last year at Mission Hills Resort Dongguan, the Ladies European Tour, (LET), the Asian LPGA (ALPG) and the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) co-sanctioning the event will feature a field of 126 players with a top 60 cut after two rounds.

Other major international players have confirmed their participation in the three-day event on the 54-hole course, including Solheim Cup contenders Florentyna Parker and England's Georgia Hall, French Isabelle BOINEAU and Gwladys Nocera, Anne Van Dam from the Netherlands, Nuria Iturrios from Spain and Danish trio Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Emily Kristine Pedersen and Nicole Broch Larsen. The European contingent are joined by Supamas Sangchan from Thailand, Rebecca Artis from Australia and Jin Young Ko from South Korea, who teamed up with Lee to win the team event played last year at Mission Hills Dongguan.

Photo: DR

The WLC was already played at Mission Hills Haikou for four years before the fifth edition of the change of venue championship in 2016. In addition to Lee, the list of previous champions includes the Korean So Yeon Ryu (2015), the Korean Inbee Park ( 2014), the Norwegian Suzann Pettersen (2013) and the Chinese Shanshan Feng (2012). Each year has known a different champion.

Described as the "Jewel in the Crown" at Mission Hills Resort Haikou, the Blackstone Course (par-73) is the first 18-hole course on a luxury golf resort. It was voted best championship course in Asia and hosted “The Match in Mission Hills” between Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods in 2013, as well as the Celebrity Pro-Am World Biennale.

Visitors who are considering a trip to the tropical island of Hainan will not only be able to witness a world-class women's golf performance, but will also have the opportunity to indulge in some rest and relaxation in which is officially accredited as the "World's Largest Spa Resort" by Guinness World Records. Additionally, the hugely popular Mission Hills Huayi Brothers Feng Xiaogang Movie Town opened in 2014 with a Duty Free Center, providing a wide range of entertainment experiences for all tastes in the resort.

To know more : missionhillswlc.com