Park Hyun-kyung's March to 2 Wins "2nd Place by 1 Stroke"... Lim Hee-jung Leads with 8 Under Par

IS Dongseo Busan Open Round 1: 7 Under Par, Lee Jeong-eun 6 in 5th, Kim Se-young 10th, Choi Hye-jin and Lee So-young Tied 38th 'Start'

Park Hyun-kyung is making a chip shot on the 11th hole of the first round at the IS Dongseo Busan Open. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] 'Major Queen' Park Hyun-kyung (20, Korea Land & Trust) is on her way to her second victory.

On the 11th, at the Stonegate Golf Club in Gijang-gun, Busan (par 72, 6,491 yards), during the first round of the KLPGA Tour IS Dongseo Busan Open (total prize money 1 billion KRW), she led with her best score of 7-under par and tied for 2nd place. Kim Hae-rim (31, Samchully) and Kim Bo-ah (25, Nexis) are in this group. Lim Hee-jung (20, Hanwha Q CELLS) leads with 8-under par, and Lee Jeong-eun 6 (24, Daebang Construction), Ji Eun-hee (34, Hanwha Q CELLS), and Jung Hee-won (29) are tied for 5th place at 6-under par.

Park Hyun-kyung made 8 birdies (1 bogey). After making three consecutive birdies from holes 10 to 12, she took a brief breather with a bogey on the 13th hole (par 3), then added 5 more birdies on holes 17, 1, 3, 6, and 9. She is one stroke behind the leader, aiming for her second win of the season since her first career victory at the major KLPGA Championship last May. "This course favors players with high shot accuracy rather than long distance," she said confidently, "It seems to suit me well."

Lim Hee-jung showed perfect play with 8 birdies, and Lee Jeong-eun 6 made the 7th albatross in KLPGA Tour history on the 5th hole (par 5, 468m). Kim Sei-young (27, Mirae Asset) is tied for 10th at 5-under par, while Choi Hye-jin (21), Lee So-young (23, both Lotte), Cho Ah-yeon (20, Volvik), and Lee Da-yeon (23, Mediheal) started tied for 38th at 2-under par. On the other hand, Kim Hyo-joo (25, Lotte) is tied for 93rd at 1-over par, and Kim Min-sun 5 (25, Korea Land & Trust) is tied for 101st at 2-over par.