"Silent Strong Player" Lee So-mi "6-Under Par Surge"... "No Jet Lag Effects"

Nexen·Saintnine Mazters First Day with 1 Eagle and 4 Birdies Excitement "Total 4 Wins GO"

Lee So-mi is greeting the gallery with applause after finishing the 11th hole with a par on the first day of the Nexen Saintnine Masters. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Lee So-mi (23, SBI Savings Bank) is quietly strong.

She debuted on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour in 2019 and has accumulated three career wins. In October 2020, she achieved her first career victory at the Huen Care Ladies Open, and in April 2021, she became a multi-champion by winning the season opener Lotte Rent-a-Car Ladies Open and the Daeyu Winia·MBN Ladies Open in August. She showed an upward trend with 10th place in prize money in 2020 (400 million KRW) and 6th place last year (758.4 million KRW). Her average drive distance is 245.56 yards (12th), greens in regulation rate is 76.72% (11th), and putting average is 30.35 strokes (27th).

Consistency is her strength. Last year, she entered the ‘Top 10’ twelve times. On the 10th, defending her title at the Lotte Rent-a-Car Ladies Open, she finished as runner-up. On the final 18th hole (par 5), despite sending her second shot near the green, a mistake on the approach shot resulted in a par, finishing one stroke behind Jang Soo-yeon (28, Dongbu Construction) in second place. Last week, she also performed well as an invitee at the LPGA Tour’s Lotte Championship in Hawaii, finishing 5th.

Lee So-mi, who had not yet adjusted to the time difference, soared. On the 21st, at the Gaya Golf Club in Gimhae, Gyeongnam (par 72, 6,813 yards), the third event of the 2022 season, Nexen·Saintnine Mazters (total prize money 800 million KRW), she shot 6 under par on the first day to dominate the top of the leaderboard. She was quiet in the front nine with only one birdie on the 13th hole (par 3), but showed strong finishing power with a birdie on the 1st hole (par 4), an eagle on the 3rd hole (par 5), and consecutive birdies on the 4th and 5th holes. As of 4:30 PM, she is tied for the lead by one stroke, aiming for her fourth career win.

"After the long putting eagle, I was able to catch the momentum and make consecutive birdies," said Lee So-mi. "I like the fast greens at Gaya Golf Club," she added, "I will keep this feeling and play hard tomorrow." She continued, "My condition is not very good, so I came aiming to qualify for the finals, but I received a good score on the first day," and expressed her determination, "I will focus and challenge for the win." Rookie Son Ye-bin (20, Nike) and Jeon Hyo-min (23, Dohui Edge) joined the co-leader group.

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