BEIJING - The 2011 China LPGA (CLPGA) tour's opening event - the Shanghai Classic - tees off on Friday at the Shanghai Orient Golf Club.

The three-day tournament boasts a record number of entrants with about 120 female golfers from eight countries and regions slugging it out for overall prize money of $50,000.

"It's the first time more than 100 female players will take part in a CLPGA event since the tour was established three years ago," said Li Hong, CEO of the CLPGA tour. "The development of quality and quantity will be very useful for the future sanctioning from major international tours."