Sakuma Shuri dominated the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA) Tour last year. She claimed four victories and swept three major titles: prize money leader, Player of the Year, and lowest scoring average. Sakuma continues her dominance this season, leading all three categories after winning the Daikin Orchid Ladies Golf Tournament, the season opener.
The Taiwan Foxconn Ladies Golf Tournament tees off Thursday for four days at Orient Golf and Country Club in Taiwan (par 72). The event is co-sanctioned by the Taiwan Ladies Professional Golf Association (TLPGA) Tour and the JLPGA Tour. Sakuma, seeking her second consecutive title, is in the field.
The player paired with Sakuma on the opening day is not Japanese. Korean long hitter Bae So-hyun will compete in the same group, setting up a Korea-Japan showdown in Taiwan.
Sakuma possesses considerable driving distance, ranking 10th on the JLPGA Tour last year at 250.29 yards. Her putting prowess earned her the tour's top average birdie ranking. However, Bae holds an edge in power, having ranked fifth on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour last year with drives averaging 255.70 yards.
Fellow Korean long hitters Bang Shin-sil and Kim Min-sun7 are also competing. JLPGA Tour regulars Shin Ji-ae, Lee Min-young, Jeon Mi-jung, and Bae Sun-woo round out the Korean contingent.
Veteran Shin Ji-ae, the JLPGA's all-time prize money leader, drew an equally prominent pairing. She will compete alongside Furue Ayaka of Japan, an LPGA Tour player who holds the highest world ranking among participants at 31st.
Korea's Hwang Yu-min won this tournament last year. Her $270,000 winner's check launched a strong season that culminated in LPGA Tour qualification. With the winner's purse increased to $360,000 this year, all Korean players enter as title contenders.