Bang Sinshil and Hyunkyung Park’s Diverging Dreams: "Two Consecutive Wins vs. Two Consecutive Titles"

Clash at the KLPGA Tour E1 Charity Open

Match Play Queen Bang Sinshil Aims for Back-to-Back Victories

Eight-Time Winner Hyunkyung Park Seeks Second Consecutive Title

It is a story of different dreams for long hitter Bang Shinshil and 'Cutiful' Hyunkyung Park.

Both players will compete in the 14th E1 Charity Open of the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, which will be held over three days from May 22 at Ferrum Club in Yeoju, Gyeonggi (par 72, 6,741 yards). This is the ninth tournament of the 2026 KLPGA Tour season. A total of 144 players (138 qualifiers and 6 invitees) will vie for the title, with total prize money of 1 billion won.

Bang Shinshil aims for back-to-back wins at the E1 Charity Open. Provided by the KLPGA

Long hitter Bang Shinshil claimed victory at the Doosan Match Play last week. Riding this momentum, she is determined to stand atop the podium for a second consecutive week. Bang Shinshil has fond memories of the E1 Charity Open, having won the tournament in 2023. At that time, she was just 18 years, 8 months, and 3 days old, becoming the youngest champion in the history of the event and capturing her first-ever KLPGA Tour victory.

Bang Shinshil said, "The E1 Charity Open is a truly special tournament where I achieved my first win. Because I have such good memories here, I participate every year with excitement." She added, "Ferrum Club is a course where accuracy off the tee and attacking the pin with iron shots are especially important. My plan is to focus primarily on keeping my tee shots in the fairway as I play."

Hyunkyung Park challenges for a consecutive second victory at the E1 Charity Open. Provided by KLPGA

Hyunkyung Park will be Bang Shinshil's main rival. She has secured eight career wins on the KLPGA Tour. Since winning this tournament last year, however, she has not added to her victory tally. This season, Park has played in seven tournaments and finished runner-up at both the Deoksin EPC Championship and the NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship. At the Doosan Match Play, she recorded two wins and one draw in the group stage but was eliminated in extra holes. Through the E1 Charity Open, she aims for her first win of the season and her first back-to-back victory at this tournament.

Park said, "Even now, it is hard to believe that I won last year with a bogey-free round on such a challenging course. The title 'defending champion' always makes me feel proud, so I truly want to defend my title." She added, "If I win again this year, since this is the 14th edition of the tournament, I would like to donate 14% of my prize money."

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