Major HiteJinro Championship 1R 'Joy and Sorrow'
Park Jooyoung Tied 8th, 2 Strokes Behind, Momentum for 2 Consecutive Wins
Park Minji Tied 66th, Struggling for 2 Consecutive Losses 'Shaky'
‘Mom Golfer’ Park Ju-young and defending champion Park Min-ji experienced contrasting fortunes.
Park Ju-young is teeing off at the 3rd hole of the 1st round of the Hite Jinro Championship. [Photo by KLPGA]
On the 5th, Park Ju-young shot 1-under-par 71 in the first round of the 23rd Hite Jinro Championship (total prize money 1.2 billion KRW), the last major tournament of this year’s Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, held at Blue Heron Golf Club (par 72, 6,763 yards) in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province. After achieving her first career win in 14 years since her KLPGA Tour debut in 2010 at last week’s Daebo House D Open, she laid the foundation for a second consecutive victory.
Park Ju-young recorded three birdies and two bogeys. She reduced three strokes in the front nine with consecutive birdies on the 4th and 5th holes and another birdie on the 8th hole (par 4). However, in the back nine, she played steadily with pars but made consecutive bogeys on the 17th hole (par 4) and 18th hole (par 5). She is only two strokes behind the co-leader group.
On the other hand, Park Min-ji made one birdie but six bogeys, dropping to a tie for 66th place and facing concerns about advancing to the final round. In June, Park Min-ji achieved a three-peat and a two-peat consecutively at the Celltrion Queens Masters and BC Card·Hankyung Ladies Cup. If she wins the Hite Jinro Championship for the second consecutive time, she will tie the record for most title defenses in a season held by the late Ku Ok-hee.
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