Park Minji "First Champion GO"... Yusoyeon and Kim Seyoung 'Overseas Players Ready for Battle'

by Roh Woolae

Published 13 Apr.2022 08:00(KST)

New Tournament Mediheal·Hankook Ilbo Championship Debut, Jang Su-yeon Challenges '2 Consecutive Wins', Jang Ha-na and Park Hyun-kyung Join

Park Min-ji aims to become the inaugural champion at the Mediheal·Hankook Ilbo Championship.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] It is the first outing of Park Min-ji (24, NH Investment & Securities), the 'No. 1 in Korea,' for the 2022 season.

She aims for victory at the newly established Mediheal·Hankook Ilbo Championship (total prize money 1 billion KRW) held on the 14th at Ferrum Golf Club in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province (par 72, 6,628 yards) on the KLPGA Tour. She had applied to participate in last week's opening event, the Lotte Rent-a-Car Women's Open, but was sidelined due to a 'COVID-19 positive' diagnosis. Park Min-ji, who debuted in 2017 and has accumulated 10 wins in total, is known as the 'Queen of the KLPGA Tour.' Last year, she swept up an impressive six wins, including one major title.

She dominated not only in wins but also took home the prize money queen and the grand prize. She set a historic record by surpassing 1.5 billion KRW (1.52137 billion KRW) in prize money for the first time in a single season. Her crisis management skills in maintaining scores under difficult circumstances have improved. Her clutch putting is outstanding. She worked hard last winter in California, USA, focusing especially on improving her short game, which had been lacking. Now, she is in a position to defend her title as a champion rather than being a challenger. She said, "I want to secure a win as soon as possible."

Jang Su-yeon challenges for her second consecutive win at the Mediheal·Hankook Ilbo Championship.

Jang Su-yeon (28, Dongbu Construction) is aiming for her second consecutive win. She is on an upward trend after securing her fourth career win at the Lotte Rent-a-Car Women's Open, her first since the KLPGA Championship in September 2017, marking a gap of 4 years and 7 months. She is determined to "play confidently and enjoy the game." World No. 9 Kim Se-young (29) and 'LPGA six-time winner' Yoo So-yeon (32, both Mediheal) will also compete in the sponsor's tournament. Other contenders for the title include Jang Ha-na (30, BC Card), Park Hyun-kyung (22, Korea Land & Housing Corporation), and Yoo Hae-ran (21, KTB Financial Group).