‘Match Queen’ Park Minji "First Ever 2 Consecutive Wins in Tournament GO"... Park Jooyoung's 'Revenge Match'

Defending Title at Doosan Match Play Championship, 'Former Champs' Lee Jeong-min and Kim Ji-hyun Join, Jo Ah-yeon and Yoo Hae-ran Aim for '2 Wins'

'Korea's No. 1' Park Min-ji challenges her first consecutive 2-win streak at the Doosan Match Play Championship.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ‘Two consecutive wins after two consecutive losses’.

It is the challenge of Park Min-ji (24, NH Investment & Securities), the ‘NH Investment & Securities Ladies Champ.’ From the 18th, for five days, the Doosan Match Play Championship (total prize money 800 million KRW) will be held at Radenna Golf Club in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province (par 72, 6,350 yards), where she will attempt to defend her title. It is the only match play event on the KLPGA Tour. Now in its 14th edition, 64 of the best players in Korea compete to determine the ‘Match Queen.’ The winner’s prize is 200 million KRW.

It is interesting that the group stage lasts for three days. This system was introduced in 2017 to increase differentiation and attract spectators. Like the World Cup in soccer, players are divided into 16 groups, and the first place in each group advances to the round of 16, then face off in one-on-one matches. If there is a tie in the group stage, the 16th finalist is decided by sudden death. On the 21st, the round of 16 and quarterfinals will be held, and on the 22nd, the semifinals and finals will take place.

Park Min-ji is the ‘number one in Korea.’ Last year, she swept six wins, topping the wins, prize money, and awards. Notably, she became the first player in KLPGA Tour history to surpass 1.5 billion KRW in prize money in a single season. She recalls the thrilling memory of last year’s victory. In the final match, she defeated Park Joo-young (32, Dongbu Construction) by three holes. Following the NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship, she achieved her third win of the season with ‘two consecutive wins in two weeks,’ signaling her outstanding performance in the 2021 season.

This year, Park Min-ji faltered briefly due to COVID-19. She did not participate in last month’s opening event, the Lotte Rent-a-Car Ladies Open, and withdrew from the Nexen Saint Nine Masters due to aftereffects. However, she made a perfect comeback by successfully defending her title at last week’s NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship. She is determined to set a rare record of defending titles in two consecutive tournaments. “I will work hard to win this tournament as well,” she said, “I want to be the first to defend the title twice in match play.”

Joo-Young Park aims for revenge at the Doosan Match Play Championship.

It is Park Joo-young’s revenge match. She fought a tight battle with Park Min-ji up to the 14th hole but showed a lack of stamina. She has yet to win a championship. Her best result this year is 6th place at the Kyochon Honey Ladies Open. Past champions such as Lee Jung-min (30, Hanwha Q CELLS) in 2010 and Kim Ji-hyun (31, Daebo Construction) in 2019 have joined. This year’s champion group, including Cho A-yeon (22), Jang Soo-yeon (28, both Dongbu Construction), Park Ji-young (26, Korea Land & Trust), and Yoo Hae-ran (21, Daol Financial Group), is aiming to secure the two-win milestone.