‘Expectant Mom’ Park Ju-young "On a 2-Win Streak"... Defending Champ Park Min-ji ‘I Also Have 2 Wins and No Losses’

In the Second Round of the Doosan Match Play Championship Group Stage, Hyun Se-rin Wins by 4 Holes, Lee So-mi, Song Ga-eun, and Lee Ye-won Also Secure Their Second Wins

Park Joo-young is reading the putting line on the 2nd hole of the second match in the group stage of the Doosan Match Play Championship. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Mindset is important.

This is about Park Ju-young (32, Dongbu Construction). She got married last winter, is pregnant, and is an 'expectant mother' due to give birth in September. Initially, she planned to take maternity leave after competing in the KLPGA Tour Lotte Open held on June 2, but she changed her mind. She decided to make the Doosan Match Play Championship (total prize money 800 million KRW), which started on the 18th at Radena Golf Club in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province (par 72, 6,350 yards), her farewell tournament. Her attitude toward the tournament is special.

Park Ju-young has achieved two consecutive wins. On the 19th, in the second group league match, she defeated Hyun Se-rin (21, Daebang Construction, 1 win 1 loss) by 4 holes. Having crushed Oh Kyung-eun (22, 2 losses) by 7 holes in the first match, Park Ju-young will face Heo Da-bin (24, Hanwha Q CELLS, 1 win 1 loss) in the third match. Even a draw will secure first place in the group. Like the World Cup in soccer, 64 players are divided into 16 groups, with the top player from each group advancing to the round of 16, followed by a one-on-one match play format to determine the champion.

Park Ju-young debuted on the KLPGA Tour in 2010 and has been a consistent veteran. Park Hee-young (35, Isu Group), who has won three times on the LPGA Tour, is her older sister. Last year, Park Ju-young entered the top 10 six times, including two runner-up finishes, ranking 17th in prize money (438.94 million KRW). She is determined to avenge the bitter loss to Park Min-ji (24, NH Investment & Securities) in last year's Doosan Match Play Championship final.

After finishing the first match against Oh Kyung-eun on the 12th hole the previous day, she also concluded the match on the 16th hole this day, reducing physical strain. "My body feels heavy, but my shots went well, and I made almost no mistakes on the difficult greens," she said happily. "I think it's because I was fully immersed in the game." Park Ju-young, who said, "My stamina is actually at rock bottom, so I tried to build a lead early," added, "Winning two days in a row feels great and boosts my morale. I will focus only on the game tomorrow as well."

Park Minji is teeing off on the 5th hole of the second match in the group stage of the Doosan Match Play Championship. Photo by KLPGA

Park Min-ji (2 wins) is sailing smoothly toward a second consecutive win by defeating Choi Eun-woo (27, Korea Land Trust, 2 losses) by 2 holes. Lee So-mi (23, SBI Savings Bank), Song Ga-eun (22, MG Saemaeul Geumgo), and Lee Ye-won (19, KB Financial Group) also have two consecutive wins. Park Gyeol (26, Samil Pharmaceutical) recorded 1 win and 1 loss by beating Ahn Ji-hyun (23, Mediheal, 2 losses) by 6 holes. In the same group, Park Hyun-kyung (22, Korea Land Trust, 1 win 1 loss) lost to Bae So-hyun (29, DS ELC, 2 wins) by 2 holes.