Straits Cup event hailed for creating friendship and developing exchanges

As the 2026 edition of the Straits Cup Ladies Classic concluded with Thailand's Nook Sukapan winning the trophy by a three-stroke margin, the basis for the tournament's creation was evident at Tianjin Fortune Lake Golf Club this year, according to Wei Qingfeng.

"This not only allows us to keep up with the progress of players from Taiwan but also showcases the development of mainland athletes and the golf industry, enabling mutually beneficial exchanges that have been highly rewarding for everyone," said Wei, secretary-general of the China Golf Association.

The Straits Cup had long been a significant event on both sides of the Strait for creating friendship and developing exchanges, Wei added.

"In the past, especially before the pandemic, such exchanges were frequent. In the sport of golf, the game's development in Taiwan is more advanced than that in the mainland, both in terms of industry professionals and competitive play. We hope to continue this good tradition, learning from their best practices," he said.

After the original Straits Cup was launched in 1997 in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, with an all-male field, in 2025, for the first time after a period of inactivity, the event was resurrected as the Zhu Chun Straits Cup Women's Open at Orient Xiamen Golf and Country Club featuring a field of female players from the CLPG and TLPGA Tours. Amateur Zhou Shiyuan carded three rounds of 69-69-68 to win by two strokes against a pro field in Fujian province.

Echoing Wei's sentiments, Lien Sheng-wu, chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang youth development committee, said it was wonderful to have the opportunity to bring this event back and that this was a "good start" for the tournament's continued development.

"Young players on both sides of the Strait have different experiences and perspectives. Giving them more opportunities to compete and interact on the same stage creates a great deal of room for everyone to learn and improve," said Lien who made the trip to Tianjin for the tournament.

"Sports exchanges and the opportunity to gain international experience and results are things that compatriots on both sides should respect and encourage.

"In our work promoting exchanges among young people, we have repeatedly appealed to the Taiwan authorities to view such exchanges in a more normal and constructive way. We should make use of the channels, resources, and capabilities of our friends across the Strait to strengthen the skills and experience of our own young people, shouldn't we? We should not obstruct that."

TK Pen, China Golf Association vice-president and chairman of China LPGA Tour, also said that events such as the Straits Cup Ladies Classic strengthened friendship and cultural exchanges, and he highlighted their importance for the players, noting that the tournaments helped them generate points to hopefully improve in the Rolex World Rankings.

Echoing this, Lien said that the CLPGA and the TLPGA joining forces to co-sanction an event for the first time in seven years was a positive development as it meant that ranking points were recognized, player eligibility was connected and officiating standards were aligned.

"I am personally very grateful that the two (golf) associations can work together in this way. It provides many players from Taiwan with valuable room to develop."

When asked if there was a long-term plan for Straits Cup Ladies Classic, Pen said it was his hope that this tournament ultimately might become a flagship sporting event for cross-Strait communication.

Pointing out that perhaps two-thirds of people on the island have never visited the mainland, he said that the significance of a tournament such as the Straits Cup was enormous and extended far beyond the players.

"Women's golf attracts a particularly large audience. It is enjoyable to watch, highly competitive and widely played. Because it has such a broad following, staging this tournament means that people in Taiwan can see it and, through the event, observe developments on the mainland."