Lim Hee-jeong Takes Lead "Major Victory GO"... Defending Champion Park Min-ji "Tied 5th, 3 Strokes Behind"

DB Group Korea Women's Open Day 2: Exciting 6-Under, Kim Hee-jun 2nd, Hong Jeong-min and Choi Hye-yong Tied 3rd, Yoo Hae-ran and Park Hyun-kyung Tied 19th

Im Hee-jung is taking her second shot on the 4th hole on the second day of the DB Group Korea Women's Open. Photo by DB Group Korea Women's Open Organizing Committee

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Im Hee-jung (22) takes the lead.

On the 17th, at the Rainbow Hills Golf Club in Eumseong, Chungbuk (par 72, 6,763 yards), continuing the second day of the KLPGA Tour major DB Group Korea Women's Open (total prize money 1.2 billion KRW), she surged with a 6-under-par round to dominate the top of the leaderboard (10-under-par 134 strokes). Kim Hee-jun (22) is in 2nd place (9-under-par 135 strokes), ‘Match Queen’ Hong Jeong-min (20) and Choi Hye-yong (32) are tied for 3rd place (8-under-par 136 strokes), while defending champion Park Min-ji (24) and Lee Ga-young (23) are chasing in a tie for 5th place (7-under-par 137 strokes).

Im Hee-jung started from a tie for 13th place, 2 strokes behind, and swept up 7 birdies (1 bogey). She made a birdie on the 2nd hole (par 4) and consecutive birdies on the 7th and 8th holes to reduce 3 strokes in the front nine. In the back nine, she added 3 more birdies on the 10th, 12th, and 14th holes to cruise smoothly. Although she hit her second shot into the rough on the 15th hole and made a bogey, she caught a birdie on the final 18th hole (both par 4) to finally take the lead. This is her 5th career win, her first in 10 months since the High1 Resort Women's Open last August.

Im Hee-jung debuted on the KLPGA Tour in 2019 and has won 4 times. This year, she suffered a serious traffic accident in April and had not been able to achieve good results due to its aftereffects. This season, she has entered the ‘top 10’ twice in 7 tournaments. Im said, "I feel good to achieve a good result on a difficult course," adding, "Last year, I admired how Park Min-ji unnie could score like that, and I felt proud thinking ‘I can do it too.’"

Kim Hee-jun is teeing off at the 10th hole on the second day of the DB Group Korea Women's Open. Photo by DB Group Korea Women's Open Organizing Committee

Kim Hee-jun posted a 5-under-par round and joined the race for the championship. She completely wiped away the painful memory of withdrawing after shooting 7-over-par on the first day last year. She started golf in middle school after doing ballet. Kim said, "It would be nice to win, but I will play the weekend rounds with the mindset of finishing in the top 5," explaining, "Tomorrow’s round is important. If I can reduce my score a bit more, I can play the final round more comfortably the day after tomorrow."

Park Min-ji, who was the leader the previous day, recorded 3 birdies and 2 bogeys. She is currently challenging to defend three tournament titles in one season for the first time in 40 years since the late Koo Ok-hee in 1982. Park said, "I feel more comfortable chasing than leading," and added, "I will rest well and come out with good performance tomorrow." Sung Yoo-jin (22) is tied for 10th place (5-under-par 139 strokes), while ‘Order of Merit leader’ Yoo Hae-ran (21), last year’s runner-up Park Hyun-kyung, and Song Ga-eun (both 22) are tied for 19th place (3-under-par 141 strokes).

Park Min-ji is making a bunker shot on the 12th hole during the second day of the DB Group Korea Women's Open. Photo by DB Group Korea Women's Open Organizing Committee

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