Park Minji's Chase "Tied 3rd, 3 Strokes Behind"... Overseas Player Kim Hyoju "Leading for Two Days"

Major Chris F&C KLPGA Championship Day 2: Kim Suji 2nd, Kim Arim 7th, Park Hyunkyung and Yoo Haeran Tied 15th

Park Min-ji is teeing off at the 11th hole on the second day of the Major Chris F&C KLPGA Championship. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] It is the chase of Park Min-ji (24, NH Investment & Securities), the 'No. 1 in Korea.'

On the 29th, at Ildong Lake Golf Club in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province (par 72, 6,689 yards), the second day of the first major of the 2022 KLPGA Tour season, the Chris F&C KLPGA Championship (total prize money 1.2 billion KRW), Park shot 4 under par to leap into a tie for 3rd place (7 under par 137) alongside Lee Seung-yeon (24, SK Networks) and Lee Ye-won (19, KB Financial Group). Overseas player Kim Hyo-joo (27, Lotte) leads (10 under par 134), with Kim Su-ji (26, Dongbu Construction) in 2nd place (9 under par 135).

Starting from a tie for 8th place, 4 strokes behind, Park Min-ji made five birdies (one bogey). She reduced 3 strokes in the front nine with consecutive birdies on holes 10 and 11 and a birdie on hole 15. In the back nine, she made a birdie on hole 5 (par 4) but lost it with a bogey on hole 7 (par 3), finishing with a birdie on the last hole 9 (par 4), ending the round on a positive note. She is 3 strokes behind the leader, a position from which a comeback is definitely possible. Park Min-ji is the strongest domestic player, having won six titles last year, including one major.

She tested positive for COVID-19 before the season opener, the Lotte Rent-a-Car Women’s Open on the 7th, and had to withdraw. She also withdrew after the first round of the Nexen Saint Nine Masters, where she was defending her title, due to a sore throat. However, in this tournament, she has regained her previous form and joined the battle for the championship. Park said, "My condition is 100% recovered," and added, "The participation of overseas players is a stimulus. I will play boldly in the remaining two days."

Kim Hyo-joo is making an iron shot on the 12th hole on the second day of the Major Chris F&C KLPGA Championship. Photo by KLPGA

Kim Hyo-joo added 3 under par to maintain her position at the top of the leaderboard for two consecutive days. She said, "I'm not completely satisfied, but I think I finished well," and added, "I will try to seize birdie opportunities as aggressively as possible over the weekend." Kim Su-ji shot 4 under par, putting pressure on the leader by just one stroke. LPGA members Kim A-rim (27), Lee So-mi (23, both SBI Savings Bank), and Lee Ga-young (23, NH Investment & Securities) are tied for 7th place (6 under par 138), while Park Ji-young (26, Korea Land & Trust) is tied for 11th place (5 under par 139).

Park Hyun-kyung (22, Korea Land & Trust), who is attempting a three-peat for the first time in 40 years, recorded four birdies and one bogey. She is tied for 15th place (4 under par 140) with Yoo Hae-ran (21, Daol Financial Group). Overseas players Yoon Chae-young (35) and Lee Jeong-eun 6 (26, Daebang Construction) advanced to the third round tied for 45th place (even par 144). On the other hand, ‘Lotte Rent-a-Car champ’ Jang Soo-yeon (Dongbu Construction) missed the cut, tied for 117th place (8 over par 152). Jang Ha-na (30, BC Card) and Lim Hee-jung (22, Korea Land & Trust) withdrew.

Park Hyun-kyung is teeing off at the 11th hole on the second day of the Major Chris F&C KLPGA Championship. Photo by KLPGA

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