Kim Hee-ji Leads Alone After 1R at Dongbu Construction Championship... Rising Hopes for First Career Win

Led by two shot eagles, 16 points for sole lead
Jung Yoonji and Park Hyunkyung tied for 2nd, 1 point behind leader

Kim Hee-ji is teeing off at the 1st hole of the 1st round of the 2022 Dongbu Construction-Korea Land Trust Championship held at Iksan CC in Iksan, Jeonbuk on the 13th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Tae-won] Kim Hee-ji (21) showed a promising start, leading with two shot eagles and raising expectations for her first career victory.

On the 13th, Kim Hee-ji scored 16 points to take the lead in the first round of the KLPGA Tour Dongbu Construction·Korea Land Trust Championship (total prize money 1 billion KRW, winner's prize 180 million KRW), held in a modified Stableford format at Iksan Country Club (par 72) in Iksan-si, Jeonbuk.

The modified Stableford format determines rankings by adding points assigned to each score rather than counting strokes, unlike other tournaments.

An albatross is worth 8 points, an eagle 5 points, a birdie 2 points, a bogey -1 point, and a double bogey or worse -3 points.

Kim Hee-ji showed excellent form by making two high-point eagles.

Starting at the 10th hole, Kim made her first eagle on the 14th hole (par 4) with her second shot from 93 yards going into the hole. Soon after, she made a shot eagle from 150 yards on the 18th hole (par 4).

Kim said, "I saw the eagle on the 4th hole go in. I shouted 'Wow, amazing' inside," adding, "I couldn't see the eagle on the 18th hole because the green was elevated, but my father was extremely happy, so I thought 'maybe' and it went in."

However, Kim showed a relatively disappointing performance in the back nine holes. While she earned 14 points with two eagles, three birdies, and two bogeys in the front nine, she added only 2 points with one birdie in the back nine.

In her second year on the KLPGA Tour, Kim Hee-ji's best career results are 4th place at last year's Celltrion Queens Masters and SK Shielders·SK Telecom Championship, and 5th place this year at the E1 Charity Open.

Park Hyun-kyung (22), a native of Iksan who has played over 100 rounds at Iksan Country Club where the tournament was held, also made eight birdies and accumulated 15 points, closely chasing the leader.

Jung Yoon-ji (22), who lost to Park Min-ji (24) in a playoff at the season's final major, the Hite Jinro Championship, four days ago, also tied for second place just one point behind Park Hyun-kyung.

Jung Yoon-ji, who finished within the top four in all three majors held this fall, recorded one eagle, six birdies, and two bogeys.

At the 17th hole (par 5), Jung directly attacked the green from 228 yards and sank a 3-meter eagle putt.

Lim Ji-hee (24), who earned 13 points, and Lee Ye-won (19), who scored 12 points, followed closely behind the leaders.

Meanwhile, one of the most likely contenders for the championship, Kim Su-ji (26), had an unstable start with only 3 points. Kim made two birdies and one bogey.

Defending champion Lee Jung-min (30) lost 4 points and fell outside the top 100, facing the risk of missing the cut.

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