Park Hyun-kyung "Aiming for Victory"... Strategies and Predicted Rankings of Top Contenders

Gayoung Lee, Yerim Noh, Heejeong Lim, Hana Jang, Somi Lee Announce Participation in PLK Pacific Links Korea Championship

Noh Ye-rim, Lee Ga-young, Lim Hee-jung, Park Hyun-kyung, Jang Ha-na, and Lee So-mi (from left) are holding a press conference ahead of the KLPGA Tour PLK Pacific Links Korea Championship. Binh Duong (Vietnam) - Photo by Choi Tae-won

[Asia Economy Binh Duong (Vietnam) = Reporter Choi Taewon] Park Hyun-kyung and Lee Ga-young have declared their intentions ahead of the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour PLK Pacific Links Korea Championship (total prize money 700 million KRW).

On the 15th, at a press conference held at the clubhouse of Twin Doves Golf Club (par 72) in Binh Duong Province, Vietnam, Park Hyun-kyung shared her thoughts on her expected ranking, course strategy, and desired titles for the 2023 season.

Park Hyun-kyung did not hide her ambition for victory, saying, "I expect to perform better than last week." Last week, she tied for second place by one stroke at the KLPGA Tour season opener, the Hana Financial Group Singapore Ladies Open held in Singapore. She was chasing the leader by one stroke going into the final third round and aimed for a comeback win, but the round was canceled due to rain, leaving her disappointed.

Regarding course strategy, Park explained, "During the practice round, I found it difficult to approach when in the rough. Even if the hole is far, I will focus on getting the ball on the green itself." She added, "The lie and distance are tricky, so I need to pay close attention."

Lee Ga-young cautiously stated, "I want to add more wins next year, but since this is the last tournament of the year, I am thinking about finishing in the 'top 10'." She continued, "The greens have steep slopes, and the rough is tangled like weeds. I will try to avoid the rough as much as possible."

No Ye-rim said her goal is to win on the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour next year, but for this tournament, she plans to comfortably finish within the 'top 20.' She analyzed, "Unlike Florida or the U.S. East Coast, I need to pay attention to the greens with many slopes."

Lim Hee-jung shyly shared, "It was hard to get a feel for the game this year due to accidents," adding, "I will aim for the 'top 10'." Regarding the course, she emphasized, "The fairways are relatively wide, so tee shots should be fine, but the greens are difficult, making accurate iron shots important." She stressed, "Depending on the pin position, being able to putt uphill is crucial."

Jang Ha-na expressed a cautious determination to aim for the 'top 20.' She said, "It is a decision to enjoy the remaining years in my 30s," and added, "I am changing my swing to reduce injuries." She explained, "When the ball lands in the rough, it feels buried in the grass. If you hit even slightly thick, the ball doesn’t travel far because of the difficult grass. Fairway and green hit rates seem important. I will play hard and smart."

Lee So-mi said, "I have given my best in every tournament, so I don’t want to say I will try harder just because this is the last tournament of the year," predicting a 5th place finish. She appeared focused on managing her condition. "Regarding course strategy, I think following what the other players said will be fine," she said, adding, "Since it’s hot, I think managing my condition will be important."

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