KLPGA Tour 2021 Season First Major Chris F&C KLPGA Championship Victory Bid, Park Hyun-kyung 'Title Defense'
Jang Hana took on the 'third time's the charm' challenge at the 2021 season's first major, the Chris F&C KLPGA Championship.
[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ‘Challenge, try again after two failures’.
This is the determination of Jang Hana (29, BC Card). The 2021 season's first major of the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, the Chris F&C KLPGA Championship (total prize money 1 billion KRW), kicked off on the 29th at Kyle Phillips Course (par 72, 6,532 yards) of South Links Golf Club in Yeongam, Jeollanam-do. A total of 132 players will compete in a 72-hole stroke play over four days. The winner's prize is a whopping 200 million KRW, which can influence the early ‘money queen’ race.
Jang Hana debuted on the KLPGA Tour in 2011 and has accumulated 13 wins in total. From 2015 to 2017, she showcased her world-class skills by winning five times on the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour. Since returning to Korea in 2017, she has steadily collected championship trophies. With her powerful long drives and excellent competitive spirit, she claimed the title at the SK Networks·Seoul Economic Ladies Classic last November.
However, she recently suffered a blow to her pride. At the season opener, the Lotte Rent-a-Car Women's Open (total prize money 600 million KRW), held at Lotte Skyhill Golf Club in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, which ended on the 11th, she finished second, two strokes behind, with a final round of 1-under par. The victory went to Lee So-mi (22, SBI Savings Bank). That was not the end. She also tasted disappointment at the Nexen·Saintnine Masters (total prize money 800 million KRW), which concluded last week at Gaya Golf Club in Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do.
The battleground was the same place where she had her winter training camp. Leading the leaderboard for three consecutive days, a ‘wire-to-wire’ victory was expected. However, on the final day, at the last 18th hole (par 4), where she was leading by one stroke, her second shot landed near the green, and a mistake on the approach led to a bogey. Eventually, she was forced into a playoff by Park Min-ji (23, NH Investment & Securities), and she collapsed with a bogey on the second playoff hole at the 18th.
It was the pain of finishing runner-up in two consecutive tournaments. After the tournament, she shed tears, making those around her feel even more sympathetic. Jang Hana is the leader in all categories this year, including prize money (165 million KRW), points (74), average score (70.25), and ‘top 10’ finish rate (100%). She is aiming to conquer the KLPGA Championship for the first time in three years since her last win in 2018. She also has a good compatibility with the course, having finished runner-up at the Phantom Classic held on this course last September.
Lee So-mi (Huen Care Women's Open) and Ahn Song-yi (31, KB Financial Group, Phantom Classic) are ‘dark horses’. Both have experience winning at the windy South Links Golf Club last year. Park Hyun-kyung (21, Korea Land Trust) is defending her title. Although the venue has changed, this is the ‘promised tournament’ where she achieved her first career win last year. Whether Park Min-ji can secure her second consecutive win is also a point of interest. Past champions such as Jang Su-yeon (27, Dongbu Construction), the 2017 champion, and Choi Hye-jin (22, Lotte), the 2019 champion, are also on the list.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
