Hwang Jeong-mi, 'Flawless' Play with 10 Birdies... First Career Win in Sight

Tied Course Record with 62 Shots at 10 Under Par
Defending Champion Kim Suji Chases in 2nd Place by One Stroke

[Asia Economy Reporter Byeon Seon-jin] ‘10 birdies only.’

Hwang Jeong-mi (23) showcased her ‘life shot’ at the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour KG·Edaily Ladies Open (total prize money 700 million won) and seized her first-ever chance to win.

Hwang Jeong-mi is taking a driver tee shot.
[Photo by KLPGA]

On the 3rd, Hwang Jeong-mi shot 10 birdies without a single bogey in the second round of the tournament held at Turning Point Country Club (par 72) in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, scoring 10-under 62. After a steady start with 1-under 71 on the first day, she surged to the top of the leaderboard with a total score of 11-under 133, thanks to the ‘flurry of birdies’ on this day.

The 10-under 62 is Hwang Jeong-mi’s personal lowest score on the KLPGA Tour and ties the course record. This score of 10-under 62 at this course is the first in five years since Kim Ji-hyun (31) recorded it in 2017. Hwang Jeong-mi said, "I have shot 10-under on the Dream Tour, but on the regular tour, I had only gone as low as 8-under. A 62 is my life-best score."

Hwang Jeong-mi, who debuted in 2020, finished 43rd in the money rankings that year. Last year, she lost her tour card and had to regain it through qualifying, showing no remarkable results over the past two years. However, this year, having regained her playing rights, Hwang Jeong-mi showed a changed form by finishing runner-up twice at the NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship and the Hoban Seoul Shinmun Women’s Classic within a year.

Riding this momentum, she is aiming for her first career victory in this tournament. This is her 65th KLPGA appearance, and she has yet to record a win. Hwang Jeong-mi said, "I really wanted to play in the champion group at least once this year," adding, "I’m nervous and excited, but I will focus on my play rather than the results."

The defending champion of this tournament, Kim Su-ji (26), also lowered her score by 4 strokes today to 10-under 134, placing second, just one stroke behind Hwang Jeong-mi. If Kim Su-ji wins this tournament again, she will become the first player to win it consecutively. Having participated in this tournament four times, Kim Su-ji has made the top 10 for three consecutive years, including last year’s victory, showing great compatibility with Turning Point Country Club.

Lee Ye-won (19) and Bae So-hyun (29), who have been leading the rookie of the year race, are tied for third place (8-under 136) heading into the final round. Ji Han-sol (26) and Han Jin-seon (25) are tied for fifth place (7-under 137).

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