If the first four events of the LPGA season focused on the tour’s stars, the fourth is chock full of up-and-comers. When most young players dream about getting their start on the LPGA, most probably aren’t thinking that will come in China. But for many in the 2026 rookie class, the Blue Bay LPGA on Hainan Island will be their first event of the year.
The field of 108 includes only three players ranked in the top 25: China’s Ruoning Yin (No. 10), Hye-Jin Choi (15) and 2025 Blue Bay champion Rio Takeda (16). So there’s opportunity for some fresh faces to shine.
Erika Hara of Japan smiles on the 6th hole during the second round of the 41st Itoen Ladies Golf Tournament at Great Island Club on November 15, 2025 in Chonan, Chiba, Japan.
There are a total of 29 players from China in the field, including a number from the China LPGA.
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Of the 28 LPGA rookies in this year’s class, 22 are in this week’s Blue Bay field. England’s Mimi Rhodes is among them, though Rhodes got her first start on the LPGA this season at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore last week, where she took a share of 10th.
Among the rookies at Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course are eight Epson Tour graduates, including Americans Melanie Green and Yana Wilson, who finished 1-2 on the Race for the Card points list last season.
Yana Wilson of the United States plays her shot from the 13th tee during the first round of the Mizuho Americas Open 2025 at Liberty National Golf Club on May 08, 2025 in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Here’s the complete list of LPGA rookies in the field this week:
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Blue Bay LPGA tournament in China has 22 rookies in the field
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