National amateur champion Dana Kim will represent New Zealand in a leading professional women’s golf tournament in Japan next month.

The Christchurch golfer will compete in the We Love Kobe Suntory Ladies Open at the Rokko International Golf Club on 12- 15 June, which is part of the Japan LPGA Tour, the second richest women’s golf tour in the world.

New Zealand Golf has been given an invitation for an amateur to compete in the event for the last four years.

Wellington’s Sarah Nicholson, now a professional on the European Tour, took part in 2005 and 2006, when she missed the cut by just one shot, with US-based Natasha Krishna competing last year.

Kim, 19, has recovered from a hand injury that prevented her from competing in the Carrus Tauranga Open this month, to join US-based Tammy Clelland and Cathryn Bristow in Japan this week for the Queen Sirikit Cup that begins tomorrow.