'Defending Champ' Ji Eun-hee "Seized Initiative with 3-Hole Lead Victory"

Bank of Hope Match Play Group Stage Round 1
Lilia Boua, Henderson, Sinda, Shin Ji-eun Victory Report

‘Eldest sister’ Ji Eun-hee makes a fresh start.

On the 24th (local time), Ji Eun-hee defeated Matilda Castren (Finland) by 3 holes in the first match of the group stage at the Bank of Hope Match Play (total prize money $1.5 million) held at Shadow Creek Golf Course (par 72, 6,804 yards) in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Similar to the FIFA World Cup, 64 players are divided into 16 groups, with the top player from each group advancing to the round of 16, followed by a one-on-one match play format to determine the champion.

Ji Eun-hee is teeing off on the 1st hole of the Bank of Hope Match Play group stage first round. [Las Vegas, USA = AP·Yonhap News]

Last year, Ji Eun-hee won this tournament at the age of 36 years and 17 days, setting the record as the oldest Korean champion. A veteran who debuted on the LPGA Tour in 2007, she has accumulated a total of 6 wins, including one major title. In another match in Group 8, Lin Grant (Sweden) and Maude S?rix (Canada) ended in a draw. Ji Eun-hee secured 1 point and is currently first in the group, while Grant and S?rix share second place with 0.5 points each. Ji said, "My shot feeling wasn’t great, but I was lucky," adding, "I will play with more confidence tomorrow."

World No. 4 Lilia Vu (USA), along with Brooke Henderson (Canada), Anna Nordqvist (Sweden), Carlota Ciganda (Spain), and Leona Maguire (Ireland), all comfortably secured their first wins. In Korea’s matches, Shin Ji-yun defeated Anna Lin by 3 holes. On the other hand, Yu Hae-ran, Kim A-rim, Kim Se-young, and Hong Ye-eun each suffered a loss.