Hanjin Seon Scores 17 Points "2-Point Lead"... Park Minji and Park Hyunkyung Tied for 51st Place

'Modified Stableford' Dongbu Construction·Korea Land Trust Championship Day 1: Ha Min-song 2nd, Lim Hee-jung Tied 3rd, Choi Hye-jin Tied 11th

Hanjin-seon is making a birdie putt on the 18th hole on the first day of the Dongbu Construction·Korea Land Trust Championship. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Hanjin Seon (24, Kakao VX) has made a refreshing start.

On the 14th, at Jeonbuk Iksan Golf Course (par 72, 6,569 yards), the first day of the newly established Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour tournament, Dongbu Construction·Korea Land Trust Championship (total prize money 1 billion KRW), she took the lead with 17 points. This is the KLPGA Tour's first modified Stableford scoring system. Points are awarded as follows: albatross 8 points, eagle 5 points, birdie 2 points, par 0 points, bogey -1 point, double bogey or worse -3 points, and the winner is determined by the total points accumulated at each hole.

Hanjin Seon collected nine birdies (and one bogey). After reducing one stroke on the first hole, the 10th hole (par 5), she made a birdie on the 15th hole (par 4) but lost it with a bogey on the 16th hole (par 3), causing a slight setback. However, she gained strong momentum with three consecutive birdies on the 17th, 18th, and 1st holes, followed by back-to-back birdies on the 4th and 5th holes and 'stepping stone birdies' on the 7th and 9th holes. Leading by 2 points, she is facing her first career victory opportunity. Hanjin Seon is a player who won two times on the Jump (3rd tier) Tour in 2016 and two times on the Dream (2nd tier) Tour in 2017.

She debuted on the regular tour in 2018 but has yet to win. Her best personal results in her first year were runner-up finishes at the Brunei Ladies Open and the McCol·Yongpyong Resort Open. This year, she has entered the top 10 four times, including 5th place at the Jeju Samdasoo Masters in July and 6th place at last week's major Hite Jinro Championship. "I heard it might rain once during the tournament, but I will focus on making birdies regardless of the weather," she said, expressing her determination, "My goal is to become the inaugural champion of this tournament."

Park Minji is making an iron shot at the 3rd hole on the first day of the Dongbu Construction·Korea Land Trust Championship. Photo by KLPGA

Ha Min-song (25, Lotte) is in 2nd place (15 points), and Lim Hee-jung (21, Korea Land Trust), Lee So-young (24, Lotte), and Lee Jung-min (29, Hanwha Q CELLS) are tied for 3rd place (14 points). Choi Hye-jin (22, Lotte) is tied for 11th place (11 points), and 'Hite Jinro champion' Kim Su-ji (25, Dongbu Construction) is tied for 33rd place (8 points). '6-time champion' Park Min-ji (23, NH Investment & Securities), '3rd in prize money' Park Hyun-kyung (21, Korea Land Trust), and Ji Han-sol (25, Dongbu Construction) are tied for 51st place (6 points), looking to make a move up the leaderboard.