Li Linqiang takes his third championship trophy in the 2023 Guo Tai Open in Zhengzhou, Henan province, on Sept 10, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

SUZHOU - All eyes will be on Li Linqiang this week when the Mitsubishi Electric FA Golf Open tees off Thursday in Jiangsu province as the Chinese teenager goes for his fourth win of the year.

The 19-year-old Hainan native has had a breakthrough season in his second year as a pro as he comfortably leads the China Tour Order of Merit through eight events with RMB351,169 in prize money.

While defending champion Xiao is skipping the tournament to play in the second stage of a Japan Tour qualifying event, this week's field includes the top four players on the China Tour money list. Other notables include Zhang Huilin, the 2020-2021 season Order of Merit winner

With the China Tour-sanctioned event being the second of four straight tournaments, Li will be looking for a strong performance at the RMB500,000 championship to add to his prize money. The money title winner automatically receives a full-time playing card for next season on the DP World Tour.

READ MORE: Brilliant Lee sweeps to victory at Macao Golf Open

With a win at Suzhou Taihu International Golf Club, Li, who skipped last year's tournament to play at home in the Hainan Games, can tie Dou Zecheng who achieved the feat of four victories in 2016 before graduating to the PGA Tour.

Li said he watched last year's tournament won by Xiao Bowen and took note of how fast the greens were on TV.

"I have won three times which shows what I am working on has paid off. I've spent a lot of time on my long game with less time on my short game. My putting game in some events was not so good as I expected. Going into this event I need to spend more time on the greens and prepare my putting game," he said.

"The season is at a critical stage. The Mitsubishi Electric Fa Golf Open is very important for me to chase for the money title. However, I prefer not to think about it. I need to be grounded, down-to-earth, and try to play well with the shot in front of me each time."

READ MORE: Golf: 'A great conduit' for business development

While defending champion Xiao is skipping the tournament to play in the second stage of a Japan Tour qualifying event, this week's field includes the top four players on the China Tour money list. Other notables include Zhang Huilin, the 2020-2021 season Order of Merit winner.

Playing on a sponsor's exemption is Ni Zixin, the only girl in the field. The Wuhan teenager has won twice this year and comes into the tournament fresh off of last week's Buick LPGA Shanghai where she finished tied for 64th. If she can make the cut this week, she will become the first female in five year to do so at a China Tour event since Du Mohan and Liu Wenbo at the 2018 Shenzhou Peninsula Classic.

"It's my honor to play this event as a sponsor exemption. I play just to improve my game," said Ni who is 161st in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. "I will try to have fun and learn from the male players. Making the cut would be an excellent result for me."

With a long history in sponsoring golf tournaments, Zhang Wei, President of Mitsubishi Electronic Automation (China) Ltd., said the company, a global leader in automation, took great pride in "helping golfers of all levels to chase their dreams and reach new heights".

The company also sponsors the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, Hawaii, on the Champions Tour and the Hisako Higuchi Mitsubishi Electric Ladies Golf Tournament on the Japan LPGA Tour.

READ MORE: Asiad: HK golf team makes history, winning 1 gold, 1 bronze

Last year, the company co-operated with the China Golf Association to title-sponsor the Mitsubishi Electric Fa Golf Open for the first time, bringing "a new life to Chinese golf" at a time when many tournaments had been canceled due to the pandemic.

"The sportsmanship in golf is consistent with Mitsubishi Electric's slogan: 'Changes for the Better.' Our original intention is to grow the game in China and show all golf fans what we have done in intelligent manufacturing," said Zhang.

"We are looking forward to a more international event this week. The field is stronger and deeper with more than 100 players from Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Ireland, Singapore, Czech Republic, Chinese Taipei, China's Hong Kong, and China. Ni Zixin, a 16-year-old girl from Wuhan, will undoubtedly inspire junior players across the country.

"This week we are fully open to golf fans after staging a closed event last year during the special time. We are trying our best to bring golf fans a unique experience with all kinds of activities in the public area in what I know will be a truly memorable week of golf."