'Grand Prize Winner' Choi Hye-jin "When is the First Victory?"

Challenge for the inaugural champion of the Huen Care Women's Open, 'Top Prize Winner' Kim Hyo-joo absent, Park Hyun-kyung and Lim Hee-jung join

'Champion' Choi Hye-jin challenges for her first season win at the HUENCARE Women's Open.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Choi Hye-jin (21, Lotte) is an exceptional player.

Since the third year of middle school, she has proudly worn the Taegeuk mark and swept up trophies both domestically and internationally. She was so outstanding that she dominated the professional stage even during her amateur days. The highlight was the KLPGA Tour Yongpyong Resort Open in July 2017. On the final day, she surged with a 9-under-par to clinch a come-from-behind victory, earning the title of 'Pro Killer' for the first time in 5 years and 2 months since Kim Hyo-joo (25, Lotte) won the Lotte Mart Ladies Open in April 2012.

In August of the same year, she secured her second win at the MBN Ladies Open and finished as runner-up at the LPGA major US Women's Open, marking her as a next-generation world star. She added two more wins in 2018 to claim Rookie of the Year, and last year, she dominated the KLPGA Tour with five wins including a major. She achieved a remarkable sweep of individual titles such as most wins, prize money, Player of the Year, and lowest scoring average. She became the first to win four crowns in two years since Lee Jeong-eun6 (24, Daebang Construction) in 2017.

This is why experts predicted Choi Hye-jin's solo run this season. However, amid the chaotic situation caused by the spread of COVID-19, she remains without a title. She has participated in 12 tournaments, making the cut in all, and impressively finished in the top 10 eleven times. The S-Oil Championship in June was particularly unfortunate. She took the lead with an 8-under-par on the first day, but the tournament was canceled due to severe weather, leaving her with a 'first place' but no official win.

Her best result so far is third place at the Korean Women's Open major in June. She is leading the Player of the Year points (357 points) and the top 10 finish rate (91.67%) while competing for the championship in every tournament. She has been on a steep upward trend, finishing in the top 10 in the last five consecutive tournaments. Her next stage is the Huencare Ladies Open (total prize money 800 million KRW) held on the 22nd at South Links Golf Course in Yeongam, Jeollanam-do (par 72, 6,420 yards). Expectations are high with her leading green hit rate (84.52%) and ranking 8th in average driving distance (247 yards).

'Prize Money 2nd Place' Park Hyun-kyung has embarked on her quest for a third victory at the Huencare Women's Open.

The absence of 'domestic number 1' Kim Hyo-joo is a variable. Last week, she secured her second win of the season at the major KB Financial Star Championship, ranking first in prize money (656.2 million KRW), tied for most wins (2), and first in scoring average (69.17 strokes). Other participants include second in prize money Park Hyun-kyung (20, Korea Land & Trust), third Im Hee-jeong (20, Hanwha Q CELLS), and fourth Yoo Hae-ran (19, SK Networks). An Song-yi (30, KB Financial Group), the winner of last month's Phantom Classic held on the same course, is a dark horse.