Jeon In-ji 'Tied 3rd, 4 Strokes Behind'... Danielle Kang 'Leads for Two Days'

2021 Season Opening Diamond Resort Tournament Day 2: 6 Under Par, Korda 2 Shots Behind in 2nd, Defending Champ Lopez Tied 3rd

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] It is Jin-ji Jeon’s (27, KB Financial Group, photo) winning race.

On the 23rd (Korean time), at the Four Seasons Golf & Sports Club in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA (par 71, 6,645 yards), the second day of the 2021 LPGA Tour season opener, the Diamond Resort Tournament (total prize money $1.2 million), Jin-ji Jeon shot 6 under par to rise to a tie for 3rd place (9 under par, 133 strokes). Danielle Kang led for the second consecutive day (13 under par, 129 strokes), and Nelly Korda (both from the USA) was in 2nd place, 2 strokes behind (11 under par, 131 strokes).

Starting from a tie for 10th place, 4 strokes behind, Jin-ji Jeon displayed flawless play with 7 birdies and no bogeys. She reduced 2 strokes in the front nine with birdies on holes 1 and 6, then swept up 4 birdies on holes 10, 13, 15, and 17 in the back nine. Her long drives averaging 249 yards and ‘piercing iron shots’ that missed the green only twice stood out. She is 4 strokes behind the leader and in a position to expect her 4th LPGA Tour win in 2 years and 3 months since winning the 2018 KEB Hana Bank Championship.

Danielle Kang firmly held the lead by shooting 6 under par. Korda also shot 5 under par and joined the race for the championship. Defending champion Gaby Lopez (Mexico) is tied for 3rd, Jessica Korda is 5th (8 under par, 134 strokes), and Lexi Thompson (USA) and Brooke Henderson (Canada) are tied for 7th (6 under par, 136 strokes). From Korea, Hee-young Park (34, Isu Group) is tied for 14th (2 under par, 140 strokes), and Mi-jung Hur (32, Daebang Construction) is tied for 20th (even par, 142 strokes).