Start of Hana Financial Group Singapore Women's Open on the 7th
Lee Ye-won, Park Ji-young, Park Min-ji, Kim Min-byeol and others to compete
LPGA Tour's Tawattananakit also participating, 'Exciting'
The Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour is set to kick off the 2024 season with great enthusiasm.
'Korea's No. 1' Lee Ye-won will challenge for the championship at the 2024 season opener, the Hana Financial Group Singapore Women's Open.
From the 7th for four days, the Hana Financial Group Singapore Ladies Open (total prize money of 1.1 million Singapore dollars) will be held at the Tanamera Country Club Tampines Course in Singapore (par 72, 6,548 yards). This marks the first meeting with golf fans in four months since the final event last November, the SK Shielders·SK Telecom Championship. It is the first time in 17 years since the 2007 season that the KLPGA Tour opener is held in March.
This tournament is co-hosted by the Singapore Golf Association (SGA). A total of 108 players from the Asia-Pacific region, including 79 from the KLPGA and 29 from the SGA, will participate. The performances of players who have honed their skills over the winter are highly anticipated. Lee Ye-won, who dominated the domestic scene last year, is determined to make an even bigger leap in her third year on the regular tour. She had her best year last year, sweeping the top prize money, the Player of the Year award, and the lowest scoring average award. Lee Ye-won said, "I think the course suits me well, so I have high expectations for this tournament," adding, "I will show consistent performance this season."
Defending champion Park Ji-young aims for a second consecutive win. Last year, the final third round of this tournament was canceled due to local lightning, and she won with the scores up to the second round, a victory mixed with luck. Park Ji-young showed a steep upward trend last year, achieving her first-ever three wins in a single season. She said, "I am nervous but excited since the first tournament is a title defense. I want to show a lot of good performances as I have prepared hard during the off-season."
Rookie trio from the 2023 season, including Rookie of the Year Kim Min-byeol, Bang Shin-sil, and Hwang Yu-min, are also dreaming of an upset. Park Min-ji, who won six times consecutively in 2021 and 2022, is facing the new season with a determined mindset. She said, "I will approach it with the attitude of a rookie."
Patty Tavatanakit (Thailand), the 2021 LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year, will also participate. She recently won the Ladies European Tour (LET) Aramco Saudi Ladies International last month and the Honda LPGA Thailand last week. Tavatanakit said, "Although it is physically challenging, I want to enjoy the game without pressure. I hope to create good memories by winning in Singapore." Amateur national representatives Lee Hyo-song and Oh Soo-min, as well as Esther Kwon (USA), ranked 69th in the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA), were also invited.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
