China's professional women's golf tour plans to hold its inaugural event in mid-May.

The Beijing Orient Pearl Championship will be held in the Chinese capital from May 11-17, the first of seven tournaments in the tour's maiden season, the China Golf Association announced yesterday on its Website. Prize money on the tour ranges up to US$250,000. Zuang Ping and Zhang Na are considered the top women professionals. The women's game got a big boost last year when the LPGA staged its first event in Haikou.

(Shanghai Daily April 25, 2009)