Thai rising star Supamas Sangchan will return to Hainan Island in China this week to defend her title at the Sanya Ladies Open from November 17-19.

Supamas Sangchan holder of the 2016 title - Photo: DR

The prestigious tournament - co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour (LET), the China Ladies Professional Golf Association and the Asian Ladies Golf Tour, will be played at the Yalong Bay Golf Course for the 8th time and with a field of international players including the two double title holders, South African Lee-Anne Pace and Chinese Lin Xi Yu.

Also felt to have a decisive impact, will be present the French Camille Chevalier - the champion of last week at the Hero Women's Indian Open - the South African Ashleigh Buhai, the English Florentyna Parker, the Dutch Anne Van Dam and the Chinese Siming Feng .

"We are looking forward to once again hosting one of the biggest Asian women's tournaments", said Yalong Bay Golf Club president Chen Ya Xiong.

“It's wonderful to see such great players from three major world tours take on the challenge of Yalong Bay. "

Sangchan, 21, used his 2016 win as a springboard for his professional career, then repeated with another victory at the Hong Kong Ladies Open in June this year. She is currently ranked 2nd at the CLPGA and 47th at the LET Order of Merit.

Last year, she completed a final round of 68 with a 54-hole total of (-8), surpassing Sweden's Caroline Hedwall in a single stroke in hot and windy conditions. The highlight of her round was a 5-yard (525-meter) ninth-hole (par 475) eagle, which propelled her with a lead she never gave up.

South African Pace is no stranger to the course, having won the tournament in 2010 and 2013, while Lin will have to prove her status as home favorite after her back-to-back victories in 2014 and 2015.

The picturesque Yalong Bay Golf Club designed by Robert Trent Jones, once again promises to host one of Asia's most prestigious women's events.

"The course will be in perfect condition and all the organizational elements are in place", said President Chen.

The very well defended course of 7 yards (189 meters) is dotted with 6 bunkers and crossed by a sinuous river which adds to the difficulty. Formed like a dragon's claw, the course is surrounded by green hills and the magnificent Yalong Bay, all forming a magnificent setting.