ZHUHAI, China, March 20 -- A top field of 120 players is in southern Guangdong province this week as the China LPGA Tour tees off its 16th season with the Hengqin Phoenix Tree Building Orient Golf Challenge starting on Thursday.

With a prize purse of 500,000 RMB on offer at the first regular tournament of the year, the players, who come from 11 countries and regions, have much to shoot for as they look to advance their pro careers.

A minimum of 15 CLPGA Tour tournaments will be staged this season, many of them co-sanctioned with such organizations as the Ladies European Tour, Thai LPGA Tour, Australia LPG Tour and the Ladies Asian Golf Tour, among others.

In addition, there is a China sectional qualifier in May for the US Women's Open. All tournaments offer valuable Rolex world ranking points for the players to gauge their standing in world golf.

The season concludes with the 13th edition of the Women's China Open in December.

Chonlada Chayanun goes into this week as the defending champion as last year the big-hitting Thai snared her maiden pro win when she made birdie on the first hole of sudden-death to quickly end a five-player playoff.

The 26-year-old Nakhon Ratchasima province native leads a strong group of 32 Thais in Zhuhai that includes Yupaporn Kawinpakorn and Thanutra Boonraksasat, both winners on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour this season.

Fellow Thai Chakansim Khamborn currently leads the LPGT Order of Merit and is also playing this week.

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