Celltrion Queens Masters... 'Three Key Points to Watch'

Park Minji's Historic First Ever 4 Consecutive Wins in a Single Tournament
Lee Yewon Aims for 4th Season Win with 2 Consecutive Victories
Lim Heejeong, Han Jinseon, Kim Minbyeol Challenge for Victory in Their Hometowns

Will a new history be made?

Minji Park is challenging the first-ever 4 consecutive wins at the Celltrion Queens Masters.
[Photo by KLPGA]

From the 7th for three days, all eyes are on the Celltrion Queens Masters (total prize money 1.2 billion KRW) of the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, held at Seolhaewon The Legend Course (Par 72, 6,652 yards) in Yangyang, Gangwon-do. Park Min-ji is challenging to become the first player in KLPGA Tour history to win the same tournament four consecutive times. She debuted on the KLPGA Tour in 2017 and has shown steady growth, accumulating a total of 18 wins. In particular, she dominated the domestic stage by winning six tournaments each in 2021 and 2022.

Park Min-ji has won this tournament three years in a row since 2021. Following the late Ku Ok-hee, Park Se-ri, Kang Soo-yeon, and Kim Hae-rim, she became the fifth player in KLPGA history to achieve a three-peat in a single tournament. This year, she has participated in seven tournaments but has yet to secure a victory. She has entered the ‘Top 10’ four times, including a tie for third place at the E1 Charity Open. Park Min-ji said, "It is an honor just to challenge for the fourth consecutive win. I hope to claim my first win of the season at this tournament," expressing her determination for the four-peat.

She added, "My shots, putting feel, and condition are all good. When I am in this state, I can focus more, so I expect good results." She explained her own strategy, saying, "Personally, I like mountain courses that use the undulation of the course. Seolhaewon is challenging on every hole. I will play defensively on the long holes and aggressively on the short holes."

There is also interest in whether the rising star Lee Ye-won will continue her momentum. She won last week’s Sh Suhyup Bank MBN Women’s Open with overwhelming skill. With three wins this season, she leads both the prize money and the points for the Player of the Year. She is determined to collect her fourth trophy this year with a second consecutive win. She shared, "I know winning two weeks in a row is not easy. My current goal is to finish in the ‘Top 10’. Since this is a course I usually like, I will calmly play the game rather than being greedy for the win."

The strong performance of players from Gangwon-do is also a key point to watch. Im Hee-jung, Han Jin-seon, Kim Min-byeol, and Kim Min-seon7 are aiming for victory in their hometown. Im Hee-jung, who has five career wins including two majors, is knocking on the door for her first win this year. She has participated in ten tournaments this year but has not entered the ‘Top 10’ even once. It will be interesting to see if she can turn the atmosphere around on her home course and compete in the race for the championship.

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