ISPS Handa World Invitational: Jeongseong's Comeback Challenge, Jeon Inzi's Victory Battle, Noye-rim and Titikul as 'Dark Horses'
[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] It is a rematch for ‘Hot Six’ Lee Jeong-eun6 (25, Daebang Construction).
On the 29th (Korean time), the LPGA Tour ISPS Handa World Invitational (total prize money $1.5 million) will be held at Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort (par 71, 6,453 yards) in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. This is a newly established tournament jointly hosted by the European Tour, LPGA Tour, and Ladies European Tour (LET). Two separate tournaments are held simultaneously on the same course. A total of 144 players will compete in a 72-hole stroke play over four days.
Lee Jeong-eun6 experienced heaven and hell last week. In the second round of the season’s fourth major, the Evian Championship, she fired an impressive ‘10-under 61’. This tied the record for the lowest 18-hole score in men’s and women’s majors. She started the final 4th round with a 5-stroke lead, seemingly securing the victory. However, she exchanged five birdies for five bogeys and failed to reduce her score, eventually allowing Minjee Lee (Australia) to force a playoff, where she made a mistake by hitting her second shot into the water.
Her dream of a second career win, her first since the rookie year in June 2019 at the major US Women’s Open, vanished after two years. Fortunately, her driver and iron shot accuracy have improved. If she regains her putting touch, she can definitely challenge for the title. Lee Jeong-eun6 said, “I think I made a lot of mistakes in the 4th round of the Evian Championship,” adding, “I think it was good enough just to reach the playoff with birdies on the last three holes,” and vowed, “I will focus again in this tournament.”
Jeon In-ji (27, KB Financial Group) is a strong favorite to win. Although she has no wins this year, she has shown a clear recovery by finishing in the top 10 six times. Her best results are 4th place at the Diamond Resort Tournament in January and the Drive On Championship in March. At the Evian Championship, she finished tied for 6th with flawless play, making four birdies without any bogeys on the final day. She said, “I decided to participate because I wondered when I would get a chance to go to Northern Ireland,” adding, “I am very excited.”
Many top-ranked Korean players such as Park In-bee (33, KB Financial Group), Ko Jin-young (26), Kim Se-young (28, Mediheal), and Kim Hyo-joo (26, Lotte) did not participate due to the Tokyo Olympics. Choi Woo-jung (Volvik) and Kwak Min-seo (both 31) joined the field. No Ye-rim (USA), who finished 3rd at the Evian Championship, is a ‘dark horse’. She is on the rise, missing the playoff by just one stroke. Atthaya Thitikul (Thailand), Georgia Hall, Charley Hull (both England), and Lizette Salas (USA) also competed.
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