Jihansol's Cheongra-bound "2 Consecutive Wins GO"... What About 'Domestic No. 1' Park Minji?

Challenging for 2 Wins at Lotte Open, Park Hyun-kyung, Kim Ji-hyun, and Oh Ji-hyun Are 'Title Contenders', 3-Time Champion Park Min-ji Takes a Break

Jihan Sol challenges a 2-win streak at the Lotte Open.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Jihan Sol (25, Dongbu Construction) is on a two-win streak.

The Lotte Open (total prize money 800 million KRW), part of the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, opens on the 3rd at Bears Best Golf Club USA-Australasia Course in Cheongna, Incheon (par 72, 6,716 yards). Until last year, it was held as the Lotte Cantata Ladies Open, and Kim Hyo-joo (26, Lotte), a member of the LPGA Tour, is the defending champion. This year, 132 players will compete in a four-round stroke play format.

Jihan Sol is currently the hottest player. Last week at the E1 Charity Open, she led for three days straight and completed a wire-to-wire victory. It is her second career win after 3 years and 6 months since the ADT Caps in November 2017. May has been especially strong with three top-3 finishes including one win in four tournaments. These include runner-up at the Kyochon Honey Ladies Open, 57th at NH Investment & Securities Ladies, 3rd at Doosan Match Play, and the win at the E1 Charity Open.

She is also ranked high in various individual title categories. She is 2nd in prize money (298.35 million KRW), 5th in points for the Player of the Year (131 points), 6th in top-10 finish rate (42.86%), and 8th in average score (71.16 strokes). Her precise iron shots with a green hit rate of 72.22% (23rd) and her “stingy putting” with an average of 29.84 putts per round (13th) are her driving forces. With Park Min-ji (23, NH Investment & Securities), who leads in wins, prize money, and Player of the Year points with three wins, taking a break, this is a chance to close the gap.

Jihan Sol also expressed, "My condition is good these days, so I look forward to the rest of the season," adding, "I will challenge for my second win of the season first." Lee So-mi (22, SBI Savings Bank) is a dark horse. She won in windy conditions at the Huencare Ladies Open (South Links Golf Club, Yeongam, Jeollanam-do) last October and the Lotte Rent-a-Car Ladies Open (Lotte Skyhill Golf Club, Jeju) last April. Bears Best is always affected by the west sea breeze as a variable.

‘Major Queen’ Park Hyun-kyung aims for her second win at the Lotte Open.

Park Hyun-kyung (21, Korea Land & Housing Corporation), the KLPGA Championship champion, is another contender for the title. She has shown consistency by finishing in the top 10 five times in the last six tournaments. Bears Best was the venue for the Korean Women’s Open until last year. It is notorious as a tough course with long rough and fast, firm greens. Former Korean Women’s Open champions such as Kim Ji-hyun (30, Hanwha Q CELLS) in 2017 and Oh Ji-hyun (25, KB Financial Group) in 2018 are also eyeing the opportunity.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.