‘Last Year’s Runner-up’ Ha Min-song "Leading by 1 Stroke"... Son Ye-bin and Seo Eo-jin Tied for 2nd Place

E1 Charity Open Day 2: Jeon Yesung and Seo Yeonjeong Tied for 2nd with 7-Under Surge, Defending Champ Ji Hansol Tied for 6th

Hamin Song is making an iron shot on the 18th hole on the second day of the E1 Charity Open. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] It is the resilience of last year's runner-up Ha Min-song (26, Lotte).

On the 28th, at South Springs Golf Club in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province (par 72, 6,546 yards), during the second day of the KLPGA Tour E1 Charity Open (total prize money 800 million won), she surged with a 7-under-par round to leap to the top of the leaderboard (7-under-par 137 strokes). Son Ye-bin (20, Nike), Seo Eo-jin (Hite Jinro), Jeon Ye-seong (An-gang Construction, all 21), and Seo Yeon-jeong (27, Yojin Construction) are tied for 2nd place (6-under-par 138 strokes), while Lee So-young (26, Lotte) and Ma Da-som (23, Q Capital) are tied for 6th place (5-under-par 139 strokes).

Ha Min-song started from a tie for 39th place, 6 strokes behind, and showcased perfect play by sweeping up 7 birdies without a single bogey. She reduced 3 strokes in the front nine with consecutive birdies on holes 1 and 2 and a birdie on hole 8 (par 3), then added two more birdies on holes 11 and 14. Especially, her strong finish with consecutive birdies on holes 16 and 17 took over the top of the leaderboard. Leading by one stroke, she is in a position to aim for her second career win, 6 years and 9 months after winning the 2015 Bogner MBN Women's Open.

"I started the round with a good feeling," said Ha Min-song. "I'm satisfied with playing without any big crises and no bogeys. It's a bit disappointing that I had more birdie chances but couldn't convert them all," she explained. She added, "I think I have played passively every time I started the final round in a good position. While results are important, I will show aggressive play that anyone would say is ‘bold hitting’," expressing her determination.

Son Yebin is making an iron shot on the 18th hole on the second day of the E1 Charity Open. Photo by KLPGA

Rookie Son Ye-bin recorded a 4-under-par round, seizing a chance for her first victory. Defending champion Ji Han-sol (26, Dongbu Construction), who was the leader the previous day, lost one stroke with 3 birdies and 4 bogeys. She is watching for a comeback from a tie for 4th place. Lee So-mi (23, SBI Savings Bank) is tied for 9th place (4-under-par 140 strokes), Cho Ah-yeon (22, Dongbu Construction) tied for 23rd (1-under-par 143 strokes), and Jang Ha-na (30, BC Card) tied for 38th (even par 144 strokes). ‘Doosan Match Champ’ Hong Jeong-min (20, CJ OnStyle) withdrew.