Park Hyun-kyung "Challenging 3 Consecutive Wins in 40 Years"... Kim Hyo-joo "This Time Competing in Domestic Stage"

by Roh Woolae

Published 27 Apr.2022 07:22(KST)

Record-Breaking Debut at First Major KLPGA Championship: Lee Jeong-eun 6 and Kim Ah-rim Join as Overseas Players, Park Min-ji and Yoo Hae-ran Defend Home Turf

Park Hyun-kyung will challenge a three-peat at the 2022 season's first major, the Chris F&C KLPGA Championship.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ‘Three consecutive wins in 40 years’.

It is the great challenge of Park Hyun-kyung (22, Korea Land Trust). The 2022 season's first major of the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, the Chris F&C KLPGA Championship (total prize money 1.2 billion KRW), which opens on the 28th at Ildong Lake Golf Club in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province (par 72, 6,689 yards), is a fierce battleground. Park Hyun-kyung won her first career victory at this tournament, established in 1978, in 2020, and last year she dramatically succeeded in defending her title, setting a new milestone.

If Park Hyun-kyung succeeds in winning three consecutive titles, it will be a historic record born in 40 years. The only player to win three consecutive years is the late Gu Ok-hee (1980?1982). The player with the most wins in the tournament is Go Woo-soon (58), who has four victories. Park Hyun-kyung debuted in 2019 and has won three titles in total. She has many golf fans thanks to her cute appearance and skill. She has been improving every year, ranking 23rd in prize money (309.03 million KRW) in her first year, 7th (529.09 million KRW) in 2020, and 4th (844.57 million KRW) last year.

Park Hyun-kyung also showed a smooth start in three tournaments this year. She tied for 47th in the opening Lotte Rent-a-Car Women’s Open, tied for 5th in the Mediheal-Korea Daily Championship, and tied for 22nd last week in the Nexen-Saintnine Masters. She ranks 8th in the points race (46 points), 9th in average score (71.08), and 11th in prize money (51.675 million KRW). Her shot accuracy has been complemented by clutch putting ability. Park Hyun-kyung said, "I will put aside the pressure of winning three consecutive titles and play while enjoying it."

Overseas player Kim Hyo-joo dreams of becoming the 'Major Queen' at the Chris F&C KLPGA Championship.

Kim Hyo-joo (27, Lotte) is a strong favorite to win. She is a powerhouse with a total of 14 wins on the KLPGA Tour, including one as an amateur. In September 2014, while still a non-member, she secured a ‘direct ticket to the LPGA Tour’ by winning the Evian Championship and entered the U.S. stage the following year. She is on the rise, having earned her fifth LPGA Tour victory at the Lotte Championship on the 17th. In addition to Kim Hyo-joo, overseas players such as Yoon Chae-young (35), Lee Jeong-eun 6 (26, Daebang Construction), and Kim A-rim (27, SBI Savings Bank) have joined the sponsor’s tournament.

Park Min-ji (24, NH Investment & Securities) is aiming to defend her home turf. Last year, she dominated the KLPGA Tour by sweeping six wins, including one major, making her the domestic number one. However, she tested positive for COVID-19 before the opening tournament and had to withdraw, and at the Nexen-Saintnine Masters, where she attempted to defend her title, she withdrew after the first round due to a sore throat, which is a variable factor. The champion group of this year includes dark horses such as Jang Soo-yeon (28, Dongbu Construction), Park Ji-young (26, Korea Land Trust), and Yoo Hae-ran (21, Daol Financial Group).

'Korea's No. 1' Park Min-ji aims to defend her home turf at the Chris F&C KLPGA Championship.