Hyejin Choi and Jieun Shin "Advance to Round of 16"... Hyoju Kim 'Eliminated with 2 Wins and 1 Loss'

Bank of Hope Match Play Group Stage: Ji Eun-hee Advances First with 1st Place, 'Founders Cup Champ' Minjee Lee and Defending Champ Yu Ying in Tears

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Rookie Choi Hye-jin (23, Lotte) has secured a spot in the round of 16.

On the 28th (Korean time), at the Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (par 72, 6,777 yards), Choi defeated Lizette Salas (USA) by 2 holes in the final third match of the group stage of the LPGA Tour Bank of Hope Match Play (total prize money $1.5 million). Choi dominated Osuhyun (Australia) by 5 holes in the first match and defeated Aditi Ashok (India) by 3 holes in the second match, achieving a 3-win streak in the group stage.

The tournament is structured like the FIFA World Cup, with 64 players divided into 16 groups, and the top player from each group advancing to the round of 16, followed by one-on-one match play. Choi took control early by winning holes 1 through 4 consecutively, lost hole 5 (par 3), then won holes 6 (par 4) and 8 (par 3) to build a 5-hole lead. Although she lost holes 9, 10, and 12 (par 4) and wavered briefly, she halved the remaining holes and finished the match on hole 17 (par 3).

Choi debuted on the U.S. stage this year after passing the LPGA Tour Qualifying (Q) Series last December. In eight tournaments this season, she has entered the top 10 four times, including a 3rd place finish at the Lotte Championship. With the major US Women's Open taking place next week, many top-ranked players such as No. 1 Ko Jin-young (27), Lydia Ko (New Zealand), Lexi Thompson (USA), Nasa Hataoka (Japan), and Kim Se-young (29, Mirae Asset) are absent, providing a great opportunity for Choi to aim for her first victory.

Shin Ji-eun is teeing off on the 7th hole of the third match in the group stage of the Bank of Hope Match Play. Las Vegas, USA - Photo by Getty Images/Multibits

In Korea's other matches, Shin Ji-eun (30, Hanwha Q Cells) drew with Kang Hye-ji (32, 1 win 1 draw 1 loss), holding first place in the group with 2 wins and 1 draw. The 'eldest sister' Ji Eun-hee (36, Hanwha Q Cells, 2 wins 1 draw) also advanced to the round of 16 by drawing dramatically with Kelly Tan (Malaysia, 1 win 2 draws). 'Lotte Championship champ' Kim Hyo-joo (27, Lotte, 2 wins 1 loss) defeated Matilda Castren (Finland, 2 draws 1 loss) by 5 holes but narrowly missed first place in the group. Allison Koepka (USA) secured the round of 16 ticket with 2 wins and 1 draw.

Lee Jeong-eun 6 (26, Daebang Construction, 1 draw 2 losses), Kim A-rim (27, SBI Savings Bank, 2 draws 1 loss), Yoo So-yeon (32, Mediheal, 3 losses), Jeon Young-in (22, 1 win 2 losses), and Choi Woon-jung (32, Volvik, 1 draw 2 losses) also failed to reach the round of 16. 'Founders Cup champ' Minjee Lee (Australia, 1 win 2 losses) lost by 2 holes to Caroline Masson (Germany, 3 wins), missing out on advancing. Defending champion Ally Ewing (USA, 2 wins 1 loss) also gave up first place in the group to Jodi Ewart Shadoff (England, 3 wins).