‘No Caddy’ Kim Hae-rim "1-Stroke Lead"... Park Min-ji "Tied 103rd, Facing 'Cut Off' Risk"

On the First Day of the McCol·Mona Park Open, 7 Under Par: Kim Yubin and Hwang Jeongmi Tied for 2nd, Park Hyunkyung 22nd, Choi Hyejin 59th

Kim Hae-rim is operating an electric cart while moving at the 15th hole on the first day of the Maekcol·Monapark Open. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] It is the surge of "Egg Golfer" Kim Hae-rim (32, Samchully).

On the 2nd, at Birch Hill Golf Club (Par 72, 6,434 yards) in Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Province, the first day of the KLPGA Tour McCol·Mona Park Open (total prize money 800 million won), she scored 7 under par and topped the leaderboard. Kim Yu-bin (23, Hana Financial Group) and Hwang Jeong-mi (22, Q Capital) are tied for 2nd place (6 under par, 66 strokes), and Lee Gi-ppeum (27, Cham Joeun Travel) and Kim Bo-a (26, Nexis) are among four players tied for 4th place (4 under par, 68 strokes) in pursuit.

Kim Hae-rim swept up 8 birdies (1 bogey). After consecutive birdies on holes 1 and 2, she took a brief breather with a bogey on the 6th hole (par 3), then fired four consecutive birdies from holes 9 to 12. She added a second consecutive birdie on holes 14 and 15. She attracted attention by playing while pulling an electric cart without a caddie. This is her 7th career win, the first in 3 years and 2 months since winning the Kyochon Open in May 2018. She said, "I thought trying it alone wouldn't be bad," and added, "I'm glad it went well and I'm satisfied."

Park Gyeol (25, Samil Pharmaceutical) is tied for 8th place (3 under par, 69 strokes), Park Hyun-kyung (21, Korea Land Trust) is tied for 22nd place (1 under par, 71 strokes), and Lee So-mi (22, SBI Savings Bank) is tied for 31st place (even par, 72 strokes). Choi Hye-jin (22, Lotte) is tied for 59th place (1 over par, 73 strokes), and Ji Han-sol (25, Dongbu Construction) is tied for 77th place (2 over par, 74 strokes). Five-time champion Park Min-ji (23, NH Investment & Securities) made 2 birdies, 4 bogeys, and 1 double bogey. She is in danger of missing the cut, tied for 103rd place (4 over par, 76 strokes).

Park Min-ji is teeing off at the 11th hole on the first day of the Maekcol·Monapark Open. Photo by KLPGA

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