Hugel-Air Premia LA Open Day 2: 6 Under Par, Kim Sei-young 3rd, Yoo So-yeon Tied 6th, Park In-bi Tied 9th
Ko Jin-young surged with a 6-under-par on the second day of the Hugel-Air Premia LA Open, jumping to second place, three strokes behind the leader.
[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] World No.1 Ko Jin-young (26) is on a winning streak.
On the 23rd (Korean time), at the Wilshire Golf Club in Los Angeles, California, USA (par 71, 6,450 yards), during the second day of the 7th event of the 2021 LPGA Tour season, the Hugel-Air Premia LA Open (total prize money $1.5 million), she shot 6 under par to rise to 2nd place (10 under par, 132 strokes). ‘Diamond Resorts Champ’ Jessica Korda (USA) leads (13 under par, 129 strokes), and ‘Number 3’ Kim Se-young (28, Mirae Asset) is in 3rd place (9 under par, 133 strokes).
Ko Jin-young started from a tie for 9th place, 3 strokes behind, and made 7 birdies (1 bogey). She started fresh with ‘stepping stone birdies’ on holes 1 and 3, then swept birdies on holes 7, 9, and 10. After adding birdies on the 13th hole (par 5) and 16th hole, she regrettably made a bogey on the 17th hole (both par 4). She hit the fairway only once, and her putting count for the round was an outstanding 26. She is 3 strokes behind the leader and has a chance for her 8th career win, her first in 4 months since the CME Group Tour Championship last December.
Ko Jin-young has held the No.1 spot continuously since July 2019. She won 10 times on the Korean LPGA (KLPGA) Tour and secured an ‘LPGA Tour direct entry ticket’ by winning the KEB Hana Bank Championship held in Korea in 2017 as a non-member. In February 2018, she won the Australian Women’s Open in her debut, a rare feat not achieved since Beverly Hanson (USA) in 1951, and won the ‘Rookie of the Year’ award.
In 2019, she achieved 4 wins including 2 majors, becoming a quadruple crown winner. Last year, amid the global spread of COVID-19, she stayed in Korea and returned late in November, playing only 4 events but still finishing as the top money earner. She was the ‘Money Queen’ for two consecutive years. This year, she has played in 4 tournaments and entered the ‘Top 10’ three times, showing her strength. After skipping last week’s Lotte Championship, she fully recharged her energy and laid the foundation for her first win of the season in this tournament.
Korda reduced 6 strokes and maintained her position at the top of the leaderboard for two consecutive days. Her powerful drives averaging 274 yards are the driving force. Since winning the season opener Diamond Resorts Tournament in January, she is aiming for her second win of the season and 7th career victory after 3 months. Brooke Henderson (Canada) shot 6 under par to leap to a tie for 4th place (8 under par, 134 strokes), while ‘Gainbridge Champ’ Nelly Korda (USA) lost 2 strokes and slipped to a tie for 25th place (3 under par, 139 strokes).
From Korea, Kim Se-young made 5 strokes under par and is progressing smoothly. Yoo So-yeon (31, Mediheal) is tied for 6th place (7 under par, 135 strokes), and ‘Golf Queen’ Park In-bee (33, KB Financial Group) is tied for 9th place (6 under par, 136 strokes), eyeing a move up to the top ranks. Lee Jeong-eun6 (25, Daebang Construction) is tied for 13th place (5 under par, 137 strokes). Park Sung-hyun (28) is tied for 79th place (3 over par, 145 strokes), and ‘Lotte Championship Champ’ Lydia Ko (New Zealand) and ‘ANA Champ’ Patty Tavatanakit (Thailand) are tied for 90th place (4 over par, 146 strokes), missing the cut.
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