The Korean Women’s Professional Golf (KLPGA) Tour domestic competition begins. The first tournament is the Lotte Rent-a-Car Women’s Open (total prize money of 800 million won) held on the 6th at Lotte Sky Hill Jeju Sky Ocean Course (par 72) in Seogwipo, Jeju. Park Min-ji, who dominated the KLPGA for two years in a row, is aiming for a ‘trend’ again this year, while Kim Su-ji, Lim Hee-jung, Park Hyun-kyung, and Lee Ye-won, who won the grand prize last year, are dreaming of competing. 스포츠토토
The KLPGA tour announced on the 5th that it will start 30 domestic events, starting with the Lotte Rent-a-Car Women’s Open. Excluding a two-week break in mid-July, it is a long run with competitions held every week until the SK Shielders and SK Telecom Championships in November. The prize money of 31.1 billion won, the largest ever this season, was taken. Among the players who were ranked in the top 20 on the prize money list last year, all but Yoo Hae-ran, who moved the stage to the LPGA Tour, will participate.
Park Min-ji is the most noteworthy player this season. Park Min-ji, who swept 6 wins each in 2021 and last year, achieved two consecutive victories in prize money last year. If she wins the prize money king by this year, she will achieve her third consecutive prize money title in 15 years after Shin Ji-ae.
Suji Kim, who took second place in the prize money list last year, is mentioned as a counterhorse. Suji Kim, nicknamed the ‘Autumn Queen’, won most of her trophies in the fall. In short, it is a typical slow starter. Therefore, it is important how to start the season in order to become an opponent.
Lim Hee-jung, who won the DB Group Korea Women’s Open, a major tournament last year, but only won one win this season, is aiming for a rebound this year. In addition, Park Hyun-kyung, who failed to win last year, and Rookie King Lee Ye-won, who said she tried everything except her championship, are eager to lift the trophy this year.
In the first tournament, the Lotte Open, Lee So-mi and Jang Su-yeon are aiming for the championship. Lee So-mi won the competition in 2021 and finished runner-up last year. Somi Lee, with her low and fast shots, is especially strong in Jeju where her wind is severe. Lee So-mi won three of her five career victories in Jeju, and both of her two victories last year came from Jeju strong winds.
Defending champion Jang Su-yeon is also a player who uses Lotte Skyhill Jeju as her home ground. Jang Soo-yeon is the only player who has won twice in this competition, which started in 2008 and celebrates its 15th this year.