KLPGA Competition "Both Top and Bottom Positions Are Fierce"

Park Minji vs Kim Suji vs Yoo Haeran 'Prize Money and Grand Prize Clash'
Kim Heejun vs Na Heewon vs Son Yebin 'Division 1 Survival Battle'

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] The competition is fierce both at the top and the bottom.

Minji Park, Suji Kim, and Haeran Yoo (from left) are engaged in a fierce competition for the prize money and the grand title.

This is about the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour. The 2022 season is heading toward its final destination. Only two tournaments remain: the S-OIL Championship (total prize money 800 million KRW), which opened on the 3rd at Elysian Golf Club in Jeju City, Jeju Island (par 72, 6711 yards), and the final event, the SK Shielders·SK Telecom Championship (November 11-13, total prize money 1 billion KRW).

The money title race is a battle between Park Min-ji (24) and Kim Su-ji (26). Park Min-ji is in first place with 1,271,561,143 KRW, and Kim Su-ji is second with 1,057,389,120 KRW. The gap between the two players is 214,172,023 KRW. Park Min-ji holds an absolutely advantageous position. The S-OIL Championship offers a winner's prize of 144 million KRW. The SK Shielders·SK Telecom Championship winner's prize is 200 million KRW. Kim Su-ji must perform well at the S-OIL Championship for the money title competition to continue until the final event.

The Player of the Year race is also interesting. Kim Su-ji is first with 716 points, followed by Yoo Hae-ran (21) in second with 614 points, a difference of 102 points. Kim Su-ji is likely to win the award. The winner of the S-OIL Championship receives 60 points, and the winner of the SK Shielders·SK Telecom Championship receives 70 points. If Kim Su-ji finishes within the top 10 at the S-OIL Championship, even if Yoo Hae-ran wins, she cannot overturn the gap with Kim Su-ji in the season finale.

The average score competition is between Kim Su-ji (70.3625 strokes) and Park Ji-young (26, 70.5119 strokes), while the 'top 10' finish rate battle is between Kim Su-ji (64%) and Yoo Hae-ran (57.69%). Park Min-ji secured the most wins title early by sweeping five victories. Lee Ye-won (19) earned the Rookie of the Year title by finishing in the top 10 an impressive 13 times.

Hee-jun Kim, Hee-won Na, and Ye-bin Son (from left) are competing to survive and remain on the regular tour.

The survival battle to remain in the first division is also intense. Based on the final money ranking after the KLPGA Tour season finale, the top 60 players maintain their tour cards. Players on the 'cut line' include 59th place Kim Hee-jun (22) with 134,845,368 KRW, 60th place Na Hee-won (28) with 134,820,651 KRW, and 61st place Son Ye-bin (20) with 132,455,193 KRW. Those who fail to maintain their cards must try to earn their spots through the main stage of the regular tour qualifying tournament starting on the 15th.