Defending Champion Park Minji "Excited for 3 Consecutive Wins"... 'Expectant Mother' Park Jooyoung "Group 1st Place to Round of 16"

by Roh Woolae

Published 20 May.2022 17:27(KST)

In the 3rd Round of Group Stage at Doosan Match Play Championship, Seo Yeon-jeong Defeats by '4 Holes', Park Ju-young and Lim Hee-jeong Face Off in Round of 16

Park Min-ji is reading the putting line on the 2nd hole of the third match in the group stage of the Doosan Match Play Championship. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Defending champion Park Min-ji (24, NH Investment & Securities) advanced to the round of 16.

On the 20th, at the Radena Golf Club in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province (par 72, 6,350 yards), Park defeated Seo Yeon-jeong (27, Yojin Construction Industry) by 4 holes in the third group league match of the KLPGA Tour Doosan Match Play Championship (total prize money 800 million won). She secured first place in the group with three consecutive wins by beating Jeon Woo-ri (25, DB Insurance) in the first match and Choi Eun-woo (27, Korea Land Trust) in the second match. Similar to the World Cup in soccer, the tournament is 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 was trailing by one hole after 7 holes but won all holes from the 8th to the 11th to take a 3-hole lead. She then won the 14th hole with a birdie and halved the 15th hole (both par 4) to finish the match. Park will face Hong Jeong-min (20, CJ OnStyle) in the round of 16. This is her chance for her second win of the season and 12th career victory after back-to-back wins at last week's NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship. She said, "I made two chip-in birdies," and added, "For now, I will focus on reaching the semifinals."

Park Juyoung is teeing off on the 10th hole in the third match of the group stage at the Doosan Match Play Championship. Photo by KLPGA

‘Expectant mother’ Park Joo-young (32, Dongbu Construction) crushed Heo Da-bin (24, Hanwha Q CELLS) by 5 holes and secured first place in the group with three consecutive wins. She plans to take maternity leave after this tournament. Last year, she lost to Park Min-ji by 3 holes in the final of this tournament. Her opponent in the round of 16 is Lim Hee-jeong (22, Korea Land Trust). Jo Ah-yeon (22, Dongbu Construction), Kim Su-ji (26, Dongbu Construction), Song Ga-eun (22, MG Saemaeul Geumgo), Bae So-hyun (29, DS LLC), and Han Jin-seon (25, Kakao VX) also joined the round of 16.

▲ Doosan Match Play Championship Round of 16 Matchups