Sharmila Nicollet to join the lead cast at Hong Kong Ladies Open

International golf stars including India's Sharmila Nicollet confirm their entry at Hong Kong Ladies Open, which will tee off from 9th to 11th June.

By Latha 7 June 2017

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Indian golfer Sharmila Nicollet hits a drive during the Evian Masters Golf Tournament, on July 22, 2011 in Evian-les-Bains, French Alps. Sweden's Maria Hjorth, South Korea's Ahn Shin-Ae and England's Karen Stupples shared the lead after carding five under par 67s on a weather-beaten opening day on July 21, at the Evian Masters. AFP PHOTO / JEAN-PIERRE CLATOT (Photo credit should read JEAN-PIERRE CLATOT/AFP/Getty Images)

June 7, 2017: The Hong Kong Golf Club will host a field of 117 players from 16 nations and territories around the world as they compete for the EFG Hong Kong Ladies Open title later this week. French-Indian player Sharmila Nicollet is excited to be back to lead the international challenge at the inaugural Hong Kong Ladies Open which will tee off over the Old Course at the Hong Kong Golf Club from 9 – 11th June.

The three-day 54-hole tournament is also co-sanctioned by the CLPGA, the TLPGA, Ladies Asian Golf Tour and the Hong Kong Professional Golfers’ Association, will be the first and only ladies event in Hong Kong in which players will earn Rolex World Ranking points.

Sharmila confirmed her entry into the US$120,000 event, which has been sanctioned by the LPGA of Taiwan and the HKGA, and will start as one of the tournament favourites.

Nicollet was the champion of the Hero-KGA tournament in 2012 qualified with a full tour card for the Ladies European Tour in 2012 being the youngest Indian golfer until Aditi Ashok becomes youngest in 2015. She claimed the Hero-BPGC Women’s Pro Golf Championship in 2014 and the Hero-WPGT in 2015.

The 11 time winner on Women’s Golf Association of India, Nicollet now seeks a break through Hong Kong Ladies Open to improve her standing on the circuit.

“It has been quite tough over the past year with injury problems but I am glad to say I have completely recovered and extremely happy to be on the course competing again. I like the Hong Kong Ladies Open a lot and am very excited to be back playing here, against some of the best in the region. It is a tough field, no doubt, but it is where I need to be in order to keep improving”, said the 26 year old Nicollet.

Joining Nicollet in the 100-plus field will be South African Chen, who claimed her first Ladies European Tour title at the Tenerife Open de Espana last September, and Taiwan’s Kuo, winner of this year’s Taifong Ladies Open.

Hong Kong’s hopes of success are likely to rest on the shoulders of Tiffany Chan. Chan is currently ranked number 19 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

There will be a cut after two rounds, with only the top half of the field competing on the final day. Entry to the event is free.