'Match Queen' Kim Ji-hyun Defends Title... Choi Hye-jin Attempts First Win Again

Doosan Match Play Championship Victory Bid, Park Minji Aims for '2 Consecutive Wins', Park Hyunkyung, Lee Somi, and Kwak Bomi Join the 'Champ Squad'

'Match Queen' Kim Ji-hyun has started her title defense at the Doosan Match Play Championship.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Kim Ji-hyun (30, Hanwha Q CELLS) is defending her title.

On the 19th, the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour Doosan Match Play Championship (total prize money 800 million KRW) kicks off at Radenna Golf Club in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province (par 72, 6,333 yards). The tournament was not held last year due to the impact of COVID-19, so she is the defending champion. This tournament is the only match play event on the KLPGA Tour. Like the FIFA World Cup in soccer, players are divided into 16 groups, with the top player from each group advancing to the round of 16, followed by one-on-one matches. The winner's prize money is 200 million KRW.

Kim Ji-hyun joined the KLPGA Tour in 2010 and repeatedly faced setbacks at the threshold of victory, but succeeded on her 125th attempt at the 2017 Edaily Ladies Open. In the same year, she won three titles including the S-OIL Championship and the national title Korean Women's Open, finishing second in the prize money rankings. She has continued her steady performance with a total of five wins, including the 2018 Lotte Rent-a-Car Ladies Open and the 2019 Doosan Match Play Championship.

It is regrettable that she could not collect the winner's trophy last year. She is recalling the thrilling memories made two years ago in Chuncheon. At that time, after advancing from the group stage with two wins and one loss, she defeated golf legend Park In-bee (33, KB Financial Group) by two holes in the round of 16, then beat Cho Jung-min (27) in the quarterfinals and her namesake Kim Ji-hyun2 (30) in the semifinals. In the rain-soaked final battle, she crushed Kim Hyun-soo (29) by six holes, wiping away the tears of her runner-up finish in 2016.

Number 1 Choi Hye-jin challenges for her first win at the Doosan Match Play Championship.

Experts say, "Her competitive spirit shows strength in match play." This year, she has participated in five tournaments and reached the main stage three times. Last week at the NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship, she tied for 34th place. She is challenging Choi Hye-jin (22, Lotte) for her first win. Choi is a powerhouse who has won a total of 10 titles in a short period, including two as an amateur. Her best results this year are tied for 7th at the Nexen·Saintnine Masters and the Kyochon Honey Ladies Open.

Attention is also on whether Park Min-ji (23, NH Investment & Securities) can achieve her second consecutive win. She won at Nexen·Saintnine and NH Investment & Securities, hunting her second win of the season and sixth overall. She is ranked first in prize money. The champions of the KLPGA Championship Park Hyun-kyung (22, Korea Land & Housing Corporation), Lotte Rent-a-Car Lee So-mi (22, SBI Savings Bank), and Kyochon Kwak Bo-mi (29, High1 Resort) have also made their names. The 2013 champion Jang Ha-na (29, BC Card) has joined the field as well.