Choi Hye-jin "Again 2019"... Park Min-ji "Challenging 7 Wins Again"

Clash at S-OIL Championship, 'Runner-up' Im Hee-jeong Aims for Comeback, Last Week's Runner-up Lee So-young Joins

Choi Hye-jin will participate in the S-OIL Championship to defend her title.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ‘Again 2019’.

This is Choi Hye-jin’s (22, Lotte) declaration of intent. The Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour S-OIL Championship (total prize money 700 million KRW), which kicks off on the 5th at Elysian Golf Club in Jeju City, Jeju Island (par 72, 6,653 yards), is a fierce battleground. The tournament is known for its unique tradition of torch lighting and medal ceremonies. Choi Hye-jin is the player who earned the nickname ‘Pro Killer’ by winning two KLPGA Tour events as an amateur in 2017.

In 2019, she won five titles including one major, sweeping individual titles such as most wins, prize money, Player of the Year, and lowest scoring average. Including two amateur wins, she has accumulated a total of 10 victories. Lee Jeong-eun 6 (25, Daebang Construction) and Kim Ah-rim (26, SBI Savings Bank) went overseas, raising expectations that the domestic stage would be dominated. However, the results are bitter. She participated in 26 tournaments but has yet to win. She only managed to enter the ‘Top 10’ eleven times, including two runner-up finishes.

It is a scorecard that bruised her pride. Her ‘needle-like iron shots’ with the highest greens in regulation rate (80.24%) remain strong, but her average putting rank of 67th (30.85 putts) is holding her back. Last year, she surged with an 8-under par in the first round, leading the field and raising hopes for a title defense, but rounds 2 and 3 were canceled due to severe weather, so the event was not officially recognized as a tournament. She only received the prize money corresponding to first place. Choi Hye-jin, the 2019 winner, is the defending champion.

She recalls the thrilling memory of shooting 6-under par on the final day to complete a one-stroke comeback victory. She is hunting two rabbits: a second consecutive win and the season’s first victory. “Since it’s a course with good memories, I’m more excited and have prepared diligently,” she expressed confidence, adding, “The course seems to suit me well, so I feel comfortable.” She continued, “I really want to win,” and “I will do my best to play a satisfying game.”

Park Min-ji is set to compete at the S-OIL Championship aiming to sweep all individual titles.

‘Domestic No. 1’ Park Min-ji (23, NH Investment & Securities) is a favorite to win. She is leading in wins (6), prize money (1.50356 billion KRW), and Player of the Year points (657 points) this year. She is breaking the KLPGA Tour’s single-season prize money record. “My first goal is to concentrate from day one and stay in the top ranks,” she said. The momentum of ‘second in prize money’ Lim Hee-jeong (21, Korea Land Trust) is also fierce. She has been in the ‘Top 10’ for five consecutive tournaments.

Lim is chasing first-place Park Min-ji in Player of the Year points (589 points). If she wins, she can mathematically overtake in the final tournament. “My recent form is good, so I plan to play hard aiming for the ‘Top 3’,” she said. Lee So-young (24, Lotte), the runner-up at last week’s SK Networks·Seoul Economic Ladies Classic, is a dark horse. “If I can carry the feeling from the last tournament well, I think I can achieve a good result in this tournament too,” she said.

Lee So-young aims for her first victory at the S-OIL Championship.

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