Im Hee-jeong "Go for 2 Consecutive Wins"... Park Min-ji 'Challenging for 7 Wins Again'

Clash at the 3rd Major of 2021 Season Hanwha Classic, Park Hyun-kyung and Oh Ji-hyun Compete for Victory, 'Overseas Players' Park Hee-young and Ji Eun-hee Join

Im Hee-jeong challenges for her second consecutive win at the major Hanwha Classic.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Lim Hee-jeong (21, Korea Land Trust) is aiming for her second consecutive victory.

The third major of the 2021 KLPGA Tour season, the Hanwha Classic (total prize money 1.4 billion KRW), is being held on the 26th at Jade Palace Golf Club in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province (par 72, 6,735 yards). She is determined to show a definite comeback mode by achieving back-to-back wins. A total of 120 players are competing for the winner's prize of 252 million KRW. The tournament was canceled last year due to COVID-19, so the defending champion is Park Chae-yoon (27, Q Capital Partners), who won in 2019.

Lim Hee-jeong is a third-year player who joined the KLPGA Tour in 2019 after representing the national team. In her debut year, she emerged as a new powerhouse on the domestic women's stage by sweeping three wins, including one major. Last year, despite finishing in the top 3 five times, including two runner-up finishes, she failed to collect a winner's trophy. This year, before the High1 Resort Ladies Open last week, she entered the top 10 six times in 16 tournaments but had no wins, which was frustrating.

She suffered greatly from a severe drought of victories for nearly two years. The stress even caused her to develop alopecia areata. "I went through a difficult time," she said with tears. At the High1 Resort Ladies Open, she returned to her former self. Last week, with precise iron shots and clutch putting, she tasted the joy of her fourth career win. Winning in her hometown added more meaning. She attended middle and high school in Taebaek, which is close to High1 Golf Club.

"Now that I have won, maybe my lost hair will grow back," she joked, showing her relaxed mood. Her next goal is to win the Hanwha Classic. Established in 2011 as the Hanwha Financial Classic, it was elevated to a major in 2017. She also has a connection with the former sponsor who actively supported her over the past two years. "Actually, I have been preparing with the goal of winning the major Hanwha Classic," she said, adding, "If I win this tournament this year, I will be satisfied."

Park Min-ji aims for her 7th win of the season at the major Hanwha Classic.

Park Min-ji (23, NH Investment & Securities), a six-time champion, is a strong contender for the title. She is on an upward trend after finishing runner-up last week. If she wins, she will accumulate 1,499.11 million KRW, far surpassing Park Sung-hyun's (28) record for the highest season earnings in 2016 (1,333.09 million KRW). Other contenders include second in prize money Park Hyun-kyung (21, Korea Land Trust), second in the Player of the Year race Jang Ha-na (29, BC Card), and 2017 champion Oh Ji-hyun (25, KB Financial Group). Overseas players Park Hee-young (34, Isu Group) and Ji Eun-hee (35, Hanwha Q Cells) are invited players.

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