"Challenging Victory After 11 Years" Jeong Yeonju's Fierce Performance with 8 Birdies

S-OIL Championship 1R 8 Under Par
Park Danyu 2 Shots Behind in 2nd Place
'Top Prize Money' Park Minji Tied 6th · 'Top Award Points' Kim Suji Tied 55th

Jung Yeon-ju is taking her second shot on the 8th hole during the first round of the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour S-OIL Championship. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter Seohee Lee] Jeong Yeon-ju (30) is challenging for a KLPGA Tour victory after 11 years.

On the 3rd, at the S-OIL Championship (total prize money 800 million KRW) of the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour held at Elysian Jeju CC (par 72) in Aewol-eup, Jeju City, Jeong Yeon-ju swept up 8 birdies in the first round, shooting 8-under-par 64. She led by 2 strokes over Park Dan-yu (27), who is in second place.

Starting from the 10th hole, Jeong Yeon-ju got off to a good start with consecutive birdies on the 10th and 11th holes. She added two more birdies on the 14th and 18th holes, reducing her score by 4 strokes in the front nine. In the back nine, she continued her 'birdie march' with four consecutive birdies from the 2nd to the 5th holes. It was a clean play without a single bogey.

The accuracy of her shots shone. Jeong Yeon-ju showed a fairway hit rate of 85.71% that day, higher than her season average of 74.03%. Her greens in regulation rate was also 88.89%, far exceeding her season average of 65.75%.

Jeong Yeon-ju joined the KLPGA in 2010 and after winning the Taeyoungbae Korea Women's Open in 2011 during her rookie year, she had not lifted a winner's trophy for 11 years. Even this season, she participated in 27 tournaments, but the only time she made the 'top 10' was at the OK Financial Group Park Seri Invitational held in September (6th place).

Park Dan-yu made 6 birdies and shot 6-under-par 66 to take second place. Yu Ji-na (20), Lim Jin-hee (24), and Kim Hee-ji (21) formed a tie for third place with 5-under-par 67.

The competition for the top spot in the points race and prize money is also fierce. Park Min-ji (24), who is currently the likely leader in prize money, shot 4-under-par 68 with 5 birdies and 1 bogey. She settled in a tie for 6th place in the interim standings, ahead of Kim Su-ji (26), who is second in prize money. Kim Su-ji, who is first in the points race, finished tied for 55th with an even-par 72.

After finishing the round, Jeong Yeon-ju said, "It was a very satisfying performance. My putting felt good from the start." She added, "Winning is always in the back of my mind. I will play the remaining rounds calmly."

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