‘Match Queen’ Park Minji's Fresh Start "4-Hole Big Win"... ‘2nd Match Opponent is Choi Eunwoo’

Doosan Match Play Group Stage Round 1: Jeon Woori Defeats, Park Hyun-kyung, Park Joo-young, Cho A-yeon, and Park Ji-young Also Deliver 'Victory Reports'

Defending champion Park Min-ji is making an iron shot in the first match of the group stage at the Doosan Match Play Championship. Photo by KLPGA

[Chuncheon (Gangwon Province) = Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Defending champion Park Min-ji (24, NH Investment & Securities) has made a refreshing start.

On the 18th, at the Radena Golf Course in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province (par 72, 6,350 yards), Park defeated Jeon Woo-ri (25, DB Insurance) by 4 holes in the first match of the group stage of the KLPGA Tour Doosan Match Play Championship (total prize money 800 million won). Her second match opponent is Choi Eun-woo (27, Korea Land Trust, 1 loss). This tournament features the top 64 players in the country competing to determine the champion. Like the FIFA World Cup in soccer, the players are divided into 16 groups, with the top player from each group advancing to the round of 16, followed by one-on-one match play.

Park Min-ji took the lead by making birdies on the 2nd hole (par 5) and the 5th hole (par 4). After conceding the 7th hole (par 3), the match remained tight, but she won the 9th hole (par 4) and the 13th hole (par 3), moving ahead by 3 holes. On the 15th hole (par 4), Jeon Woo-ri made a bogey, securing Park's victory early. Park said, "I was physically tired after last week's tournament, but fortunately, my condition was good, so I was able to play as I wanted," adding, "I'm glad it ended early."

Last week, she successfully defended her title at the NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship, marking her first win of the season and the 11th win of her career. If she wins this tournament, she will become the first player to achieve back-to-back match play titles. Park said, "Managing stamina well is key to winning in match play," and added, "I will give my all through the third group stage match. If I finish first in the group and advance to the round of 16, I will fight fiercely then," smiling.

Park Hyun-kyung is making an iron tee shot in the first match of the group stage at the Doosan Match Play Championship. Photo by KLPGA

Park Hyun-kyung (22, Korea Land Trust) narrowly defeated Park Gyeol (26, Samil Pharmaceutical) by 2 holes after a close match that went to the 17th hole (par 4). Last year's runner-up Park Joo-young (32, Dongbu Construction) crushed Oh Kyung-eun (22) by 7 holes. This year's champion group, including Cho Ah-yeon (22, Dongbu Construction), Park Ji-young (26, Korea Land Trust), and Yoo Hae-ran (21, Daol Financial Group), also recorded their first wins. On the other hand, 2010 champion Lee Jung-min (30, Hanwha Q CELLS) and 2019 champion Kim Ji-hyun (31, Daebo Construction) each suffered a loss.

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