Gangwon-do’s representative golfers will go on a trophy hunt for the first major tournament of the season.
The Korea Women’s Professional Golf (KLPGA) tour held the first major tournament of the season, the ‘Chris F&C 45th KLPGA Championship (total prize money of 1.3 billion won) at the Lakewood Country Club mountain path and forest path course (par 72, 6,570 yards) in Yangju-si, Gyeonggi-do for four days from the 27th. ) is held. The KLPGA Championship is the tournament with the longest history on the KLPGA Tour. It is the highest prize money in the first half of the tournament.
A number of Gangwon golfers are also participating in this tournament. The vanguard is Park Ji-young (27, Korea Land Trust) from Wonju, who currently ranks first in prize money (299.64 million won). Park Ji-young, who reached the top at the ‘Hana Financial Group Singapore Women’s Open’, which was the opening game of the 2023안전놀이터 season in December last year, tied for 2nd at the ‘Lotte Rent-A-Car Women’s Open’ and tied for 8th at the ‘Mediheal Hankook Ilbo Championship’. showing off the senses. Although she faltered in a tie for 12th at the previous “Nexen Saint Nine Masters 2023”, she still holds first place in prize money, target points (155 points), and average at bats (70.231).
Kim Min-byeol (19, Hite Jinro) from Chuncheon, the “morning star of Gangwon golf,” has recently been on the rise. Kim Min-byeol, who entered the top 10 for the first time since her professional debut by tying for 6th at the Lotte Rent-A-Car Women’s Open, tied for 3rd at the following Mediheal/Hankook Ilbo Championships and tied for 5th at the Nexen/Saint Nine Masters 2023. It is showing off the spirit of entering within the 6th place in the opening tournaments in a row. Considered a strong candidate for Rookie of the Year this season, he is determined to become a ‘Major Queen’ as well.
Lim Hee-jeong (23, Doosan E&C) from Taebaek, a star representing the tour, is resurrecting and raising expectations. Lim Hee-jung tied for 6th at the Hana Financial Group Singapore Women’s Open, which was the opening game of the season, but sluggishly tied for 51st, 32nd and 16th in the following three tournaments, respectively. However, just before that, she tied for 5th at the Nexen Saint Nine Masters 2023, her best result of the season. As her grades are gradually improving, she is expected to record good results in this competition as well.
Lim Hee-jeong, who conducted a live interview through SBS Golf on the 26th, the day before the tournament, said, “There are holes where you can aim for a birdie, so it seems important to save par until then.” I hope that many people will find the scene and take good shots with me,” she said with determination.
In addition to them, Han Jin-sun from Sokcho and Jang Ha-na from Chuncheon are scheduled to compete for the title.