Gayoung Lee Leads by 2 Shots "First Win GO"... Hyojoo Kim and Hana Jang Tied for 2nd Place

OK Savings Bank Park Seri Invitational Day 2: Im Hee-jeong and Lee So-young Tied 4th, 'Recommended Player' Lee Ye-won Tied 10th

Lee Gayoung is making an iron shot on the 1st hole on the second day of the OK Savings Bank Park Seri Invitational. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Lee Ga-young (22, NH Investment & Securities) has her first chance to win.

On the 18th, at Sejong City's Silk River Golf Club (par 72, 6,627 yards), during the second day of the KLPGA Tour OK Savings Bank Park Seri Invitational (total prize money 800 million KRW), she surged with a 5-under-par round to take the top spot on the leaderboard (11-under-par 133). Overseas player Kim Hyo-joo (26, Lotte) and '2nd in prize money' Jang Ha-na (29, BC Card) are tied for second place, two strokes behind (9-under-par 135), while as many as six players including Lim Hee-jung (21, Korea Land & Housing Corporation) and Lee So-young (Lotte) are chasing from a three-stroke tie for fourth place (8-under-par 136).

Lee Ga-young started tied for second place, two strokes behind, and collected six birdies (one bogey). She created momentum with 'two pairs of consecutive birdies' on holes 3-4 and 9-10. After taking a brief breather with a bogey on the 12th hole (par 4), she added two more birdies on holes 15 and 18 to finally place her name at the very top of the leaderboard. She is a third-year player who joined the regular tour in 2019. Although she has yet to win, she has demonstrated strong potential by entering the top 5 four times this year and is currently ranked 10th in prize money.

Kim Hyo-joo is making an iron shot on the 10th hole on the second day of the OK Savings Bank Park Seri Invitational. Photo by KLPGA

Kim Hyo-joo reduced her score by five strokes and is now in the running for the championship. Last week's major KB Financial Star Championship winner Jang Ha-na is also hoping for back-to-back wins. The 'recommended player' Lee Ye-won (18, KB Financial Group), who was the leader the previous day, lost one stroke and dropped to a tie for 10th place (7-under-par 137). Two-time champion Lee So-mi (22, SBI Savings Bank) is tied for 10th place, while '3rd in prize money' Park Hyun-kyung (21, Korea Land & Housing Corporation) and Lee Da-yeon (24, Mediheal) are positioned at a tie for 31st place (4-under-par 140).