Hite Jinro Championship 1R Even Par Tied 13th... "Best Performance on Opening Day This Season"
Song Ga-eun, Jeong Seul-gi, Jeong Yoon-ji Just 3 Shots Behind Tied 1st Group
Kim Sae-romi, Park Ji-young Tied 4th by 1 Shot... Yoo Hae-ran Tied 6th, Park Min-ji Tied 27th
Park Sung-hyun is making an iron shot on the 1st hole during the first round of the Hite Jinro Championship, part of the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, held on the 6th. Photo by KLPGA
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seohee] The protagonist on the first day of the Hite Jinro Championship (total prize money 1.2 billion KRW), the final major tournament of this season's Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, was Park Sung-hyun (29), who competed on the domestic stage for the first time in a year.
On the 6th, Park Sung-hyun played the first round of the Hite Jinro Championship at Blue Heron Golf Club (par 72) in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, surrounded by about 2,000 supporters. She recorded an even-par 72 with two birdies and two bogeys, finishing tied for 13th place, but received the full attention of the gallery.
Finishing the day three strokes behind the co-leaders who scored 3-under-par 69, Park Sung-hyun said, "This is the best first-day performance among the tournaments I played this year," adding, "There were first rounds with better scores than today, but my condition and shot feel were good." It has been a year since she last competed on the KLPGA stage, which was at this tournament last year.
In today's competition, Song Ga-eun (21), Jung Seul-gi (27), and Jung Yoon-ji (22) all tied for first place with 3-under-par 69. Following them, Kim Sae-romi (24) and Park Ji-young (26) stood tied for fourth place at 2-under-par 70, just one stroke behind the leaders.
Starting at the 10th hole (par 5), Jung Seul-gi's late surge shone. She finished the front nine at even par and then raised her form by recording consecutive birdies at the 1st hole (par 4), 2nd hole (par 3), and 5th hole (par 3) on the back nine. Song Ga-eun recorded four birdies and one bogey.
Last year's Rookie of the Year, Song Ga-eun, who secured her first win of the season at the Daebo House D Open in July, is aiming for her second win of the season at this tournament. Jung Yoon-ji, who claimed her first career victory at the E1 Charity Open in May, also has a green light for a second win. Jung Seul-gi, who has not won since the KG·Edaily Ladies Open in September 2018, is challenging for a victory after 49 months.
Kim Su-ji (26), who won last week’s Hana Financial Group Championship and achieved back-to-back wins, finished tied for 13th with an even-par 72. A bogey on the final 18th hole (par 5), where her second shot landed in the rough, was painful. As the defending champion of this tournament, Kim Su-ji will achieve a historic record of three consecutive wins if she wins this event.
Yoo Hae-ran (21), ranked first in the points race for the Player of the Year, started comfortably with 1-under-par 71, while Park Min-ji (24), ranked first in the prize money ranking, remained tied for 27th with 1-over-par 73.
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