Jeong Yoonji and Kim Jihyun Among 4 Co-Leaders: "It's a Battle of Who Makes Fewer Mistakes"

Major Hanwha Classic 2R: Kim Ji-young 2 and Hong Ji-won Take Top of Leaderboard
Only 4 Players Under Par on 'Difficult Course'
Park Min-ji Tied 10th, 'Overseas Player' Ji Eun-hee 'Cut Off'

Jung Yoon-ji is cheering after making a birdie on the 14th hole of the 2nd round of the Hanwha Classic. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter Seohee Lee] 'Only 4 players.'

These are the players who recorded under par on the second day of the third major tournament of the 2022 season of the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, the Hanwha Classic (total prize money 1.4 billion KRW). Jeong Yoonji (22), Kim Jihyun (31), Hong Jiwon (22), and Kim Jiyoung2 (26) all posted a combined score of 1-under-par 143, sharing the lead. Due to the challenging course, the number of players under par decreased from 7 on the previous day to 4.

On the 26th, Jeong Yoonji surged to the top of the leaderboard by shooting 5-under-par in the second round held at Jade Palace Golf Club (par 72, 6,777 yards) in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. Although she struggled with a 4-over-par 76 in the first round, she made 6 birdies and 1 bogey on this day. She secured her first career victory at the E1 Charity Open last May.

Kim Ji-hyun is making an iron shot on the 8th hole of the 2nd round of the Hanwha Classic. Photo by KLPGA

Kim Jihyun, who has accumulated 5 wins on the KLPGA Tour, exchanged 2 birdies for 2 bogeys. Hong Jiwon also showed a steady performance, recording 4 birdies and 4 bogeys. Kim Jiyoung2 reduced her score by one stroke, joining the race for the championship.

Kim Jihyun said, “Because I know the course better than other players, I already knew how to approach it and what mistakes to avoid. I actually liked that the course setup was difficult, and I think that aspect suited me well.”

‘Domestic No. 1’ Park Minji (24) faltered, losing 4 strokes and dropping to a tie for 10th place (2-over-par 146). Yoo Seoyeon2 (19), who was the leader the previous day, collapsed with a 10-over-par round and fell to a tie for 38th place (7-over-par 151). Ji Eunhee (36), who plays on the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour, failed to advance to the final round, tying for 63rd place (10-over-par 154).

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