'Wins Leader' Im Jin-hee: "This Time It's My Turn to Take Over the US Stage"

LPGA Tour Q Series Top Challenge
Park Seri, Lee Jeongeun6, Yoo Haeran Leading 'Winning Streak'
KLPGA Members Sung Yujin, Lee Somi, Hong Jungmin Compete

It is a new challenge for ‘Winningest’ Im Jin-hee.

Starting from the 30th (local time), she will participate in the final stage of the LPGA Tour Qualifying (Q) Series held over six days at Magnolia Grove Golf Course in Mobile, Alabama, USA. The Q Series is a grueling 108-hole competition over six days. Until last year, it was 144 holes over 8 rounds. After four rounds, lower-ranked players are cut, and the remaining players compete in two more rounds to determine the final rankings. The top 20 players earn LPGA Tour cards for next year. Players ranked 21st to 45th receive conditional status and Epson (2nd-tier) Tour cards. Those who do not make the top 45 will play on the Epson Tour.

Im Jin-hee aims to be the top qualifier in the LPGA Tour Q-Series.

Im Jin-hee, who secured the most wins with four victories on this year’s Korean LPGA (KLPGA) Tour, is a strong favorite to pass as the top qualifier. Among the players entering the Q Series, she holds the highest world ranking (40th). Despite playing on the KLPGA Tour, which is less favorable for earning ranking points, she is still in the ‘Top 40’. Im Jin-hee expressed her ambition, saying, "Nothing is impossible. I will advance to the LPGA Tour and challenge for the world No. 1 ranking."

‘Match Queen’ Sung Yu-jin is also aiming for first place. Last month, she secured a spot in the final stage by finishing tied for 4th in the second stage of Q School. Sung Yu-jin has won three times on the KLPGA Tour. In early April, she competed as an invited player at the LPGA Tour’s Lotte Championship and finished runner-up after an extended playoff. Although she has no wins this year, Lee So-mi, who has five domestic wins, and Hong Jeong-min, last year’s Doosan Match Play Championship winner, are also hoping to secure their tour cards.

Players such as Lee Jeong-eun 5, Kang Hye-ji, Jang Hyo-jun, and Joo Soo-bin, who played on the LPGA Tour this year, are hoping to return to the regular tour. Former LPGA Tour winners Christina Kim (2 wins) and Annie Park (1 win), as well as No Ye-rim and Jennifer Song (both from the USA), are also attempting a comeback through this year’s Q Series. Among the candidates, 18-year-old Baba Saki from Japan stands out. She is ranked 3rd in the amateur world rankings after winning last year’s US Women’s Amateur Championship. She bypassed the Japan LPGA (JLPGA) Tour and chose to enter the LPGA Tour Q Series directly.

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