Kim Ji-young 2 "9-Under Par Birdie Show"... Kim Woo-jung '2nd Place, 1 Stroke Behind'

2021 Season First Major KLPGA Championship Day 1 Leader, Jang Hana and An Songyi Tied 10th, Park Hyunkyung Tied 20th

Kim Ji-young 2 is teeing off at the 7th hole on the first day of the major KLPGA Championship. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] It is a ‘birdie show’ by long hitter Kim Ji-young2 (25, SK Networks).

On the 29th, at the Kyle Phillips Course of South Links Golf Club in Yeongam, Jeonnam (par 72, 6,532 yards), Kim posted 9-under par on the first day of the first major of the 2021 KLPGA Tour season, the Chris F&C KLPGA Championship (total prize money 1 billion won), topping the leaderboard. Kim Woo-jung (23, BC Card) is in 2nd place (8-under par 64), Kim Hyo-moon (23, Ilhwa Makgeolli) is 3rd (6-under par 66), and five players including Ji Han-sol (25, Dongbu Construction) are tied for 4th place (5-under par 67).

Kim Ji-young2 racked up 10 birdies (1 bogey). After a birdie on the 3rd hole was offset by a bogey on the 4th hole (both par 4), she fired five consecutive birdies from the 6th to the 10th holes. She then secured the top spot on the leaderboard with birdies on the 12th and 15th holes and consecutive birdies on the 17th and 18th holes. Leading by one stroke, she seized the opportunity for her third career win, 10 months after winning the BC Card·Hankyung Ladies Cup in June last year. Kim Ji-young joined the regular tour in 2016 and is now in her 6th year as a professional.

In her debut year, she shed tears after losing two extended playoffs in April at the Samchully Together Open and in September at the KLPGA Championship. Especially in the Samchully Together Open playoff, she made headlines with a ‘concede incident’ when her par putt missed the hole and she picked up Park Sung-hyun’s (28) mark. In May 2017, at the NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship, she tasted the joy of her first win in her 36th KLPGA Tour event. Her main weapon is her powerful long drive, averaging over 250 yards.

Kim Woo-jung joined the competition for the championship by making 8 birdies without any bogeys. As a 3rd-year player, this is her personal best score. Jang Ha-na (29, BC Card) and Ahn Song-yi (31, KB Financial Group), who finished as runners-up in the last two tournaments, are tied for 10th place (4-under par 68), and defending champion Park Hyun-kyung (21, Korea Land & Housing Trust) is tied for 20th place (3-under par 69). On the other hand, ‘Lotte Rent-a-Car Champ’ Lee So-mi (22, SBI Savings Bank) is tied for 45th place (1-under par 71), and 2019 champion Choi Hye-jin (22, Lotte) is tied for 59th place (even par 72).