Securing Full Tour Seed Next Year Requires Ranking Around Top 20
Interest in National Team Veterans Hwang Yumin, Bang Sinshil, Kim Minbyeol
Son Yebin, Seo Eojin, An Sohyeon Also Face Tour Comeback Test
KLPGA Tour player An Sohyun appointed as an ambassador for Sejong Nambu Police Station. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Seohee Lee] As the 2022 season of the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour comes to a close, players who failed to secure their tour cards are set to engage in fierce competition at the 2023 Regular Tour Qualifying Tournament finals starting from the 15th.
On the 11th, KLPGA announced the list of 128 participants who will compete in the 2023 Regular Tour Qualifying Tournament finals, where the right to participate in the 2023 season regular tour is at stake. The finals will be held over four days starting from the 15th at Muan Country Club (par 72) in Muan, Jeollanam-do. The tournament will be conducted in a 72-hole stroke play format.
At the 2022 season finale, the SK Shielders-SK Telecom Championship, players experienced mixed fortunes regarding next year’s tour cards. According to the results, players ranked within the top 60 in the prize money standings secured their place to continue competing in the first division next season. However, players who failed to rank within the top 60 and did not secure their cards through other qualifications such as tour wins must finish in the upper ranks of the qualifying tournament to remain in the first division next year.
Although it varies slightly each year, on average, players need to finish within the top 20 to maintain stable activity on the regular tour.
The players preparing for the qualifying tournament are inevitably desperate. Although the scale of the Dream Tour (2nd division) and Jump Tour (3rd division) has grown compared to the past, competing in the first division tour is still considered an honor among players. Falling to the lower ranks in the qualifying tournament means relegation to the 2nd division tour, so securing a top position is essential.
Notably, promising national team players participating in this year’s qualifying tournament stand out. Hwang Yumin (19), Bang Sinshil (18), and Kim Minbyeol (18), who competed for the top amateur spot domestically, are preparing to enter the KLPGA Tour.
‘Beauty golfer’ Ahn Sohyun (27), who has played on the 2nd division tour for the past two years, is also determined to return to the first division, and Son Yebin (20), who finished first in this tournament last year, dropped to the qualifying tournament again after finishing 62nd in this year’s first division tour prize money rankings.
Rookie of the Year in 2017, Jang Eunsoo (24), and Seo Eojin (21), who narrowly missed the cut with a 61st place prize money ranking this year and will head to Muan, are also aiming to regain their 2023 regular tour cards.
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