'Number 2' Lim Hee-jeong's 2nd Victory Launch... "Park Min-ji is Not Here"

'Number 1' Park Minji Absent, Challenging for Victory at Evercollagen Queens Crown, Jeon Yesung Aims for 2 Consecutive Wins, Song Gaeun Seeks 2 Consecutive Victories 'Declaration'

'Number 2' Lim Hee-jeong challenges for her second win at the Ever Collagen Queens Crown.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Lim Hee-jung (22) is the ‘Number 2’.

She is in her fourth year since debuting on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour in 2019. She has accumulated a total of 5 wins, including 3 wins in her first year and 1 win each last year and this year. Among these, 2 are major championships. Last year, she entered the ‘Top 10’ fifteen times in 28 tournaments and ranked 2nd in the prize money rankings (991.66 million KRW). She finished as runner-up and in 3rd place three times each. This season, she was expected to lead the KLPGA Tour alongside Park Min-ji (24), but she faced a hardship after a serious car accident in April that was severe enough to total her vehicle.

Lim Hee-jung is still undergoing hospital treatment and suffering from aftereffects such as muscle stiffness caused by trauma. She changed the momentum by finishing 3rd at the Doosan Match Play Championship in May, and on the 19th of last month, she achieved a commanding 6-stroke victory (19-under-par 269) at the ‘National Title’ Korea Women’s Open (total prize money 1.2 billion KRW) held at Rainbow Hills Golf Club (par 72) in Eumseong, Chungbuk. She broke the 72-hole lowest score record previously held by Oh Ji-hyun (26) in 2018 and Park Min-ji last year (17-under-par 271).

Lim Hee-jung collected a trophy for the first time in 10 months since the High1 Resort Ladies Open last August and received 300 million KRW in prize money. Last week, she added 35 million KRW by finishing tied for 5th at the Daebo House D Open. As of the 12th, she ranks 2nd in the prize money rankings (448.176 million KRW). She is eagerly awaiting the Ever Collagen Queens Crown (total prize money 800 million KRW), which will kick off on the 14th at Lakewood Golf Club (par 72, 6,539 yards) in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province.

‘Prize money leader’ Park Min-ji (650.515714 million KRW) is not participating in this tournament. Lim Hee-jung has a chance to reduce the gap, which currently stands at 202.34 million KRW. The winner’s prize money for this tournament is 144 million KRW. The defending champion Jeon Ye-seong (21) is aiming for a second consecutive win, as is ‘Daebo champion’ Song Ga-eun (22). The lineup also includes this year’s champions such as Yoo Hae-ran (21), Park Ji-young (26), Cho Ah-yeon, Jung Yoon-ji (both 22), Hong Jeong-min (20), and Lim Jin-hee (24).

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