'Gangho Killer' Hong Jeong-min "I'm the Match Queen"..."Did you see the last 2 holes birdie-birdie?"

In the Doosan Match Play Championship, Park Minji defeated in the Round of 16, followed by Song Gaeun in the Quarterfinals, Lim Heejeong in the Semifinals, and Lee Yewon in the Finals sequentially.

Hong Jeong-min is examining the putting line on the 2nd hole during the final day of the Doosan Match Play Championship final. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyun-jun] "Birdie-birdie on the last two holes."

‘Strong opponent killer’ Hong Jeong-min (20, CJ OnStyle) finally ascended to the title of ‘Match Queen.’ On the final day of the Doosan Match Play Championship (total prize money 800 million KRW) held on the 22nd at Radenna Golf Club in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province (par 72, 6,350 yards), she was trailing Lee Ye-won (19, KB Financial Group) by one hole but made a birdie on the 17th hole (par 4) to tie the match, then secured the winning birdie on the 18th hole (par 5). She received a winner’s prize of 200 million KRW.

Hong Jeong-min is a player who advanced to the KLPGA Tour last year after going through the Dream (2nd tier) Tour in 2020. In 28 tournaments, she successfully made a smooth landing by entering the ‘Top 10’ seven times and ranking 18th in the prize money rankings (396 million KRW). Despite finishing second twice?in July at the Jeju Samdasoo Masters and in September at the OK Savings Bank Park Seri Invitational?she was frustrated by the lack of a win. This year, her putting has been shaky, resulting in three missed cuts in six events, showing struggles on the greens.

However, in this tournament, she drew attention by defeating strong opponents, including the defending champion Park Min-ji (24, NH Investment & Securities) in the round of 16. It is interesting that Park Min-ji had just secured her second consecutive win at the NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship, which ended on the 15th, marking the first title defense in the history of that tournament and her challenge for ‘two consecutive wins in two weeks.’ In the quarterfinals, Hong defeated last year’s Rookie of the Year Song Ga-eun (22, MG Saemaeul Geumgo), and in the morning semifinals, she also overcame last year’s second-place prize money ranking Im Hee-jeong (22, Korea Land & Trust).