‘Beautiful Golfer’ Hara Arrives in Chuncheon

Recommended Player for Major Tournament Hanwha Classic Debut
Skilled Player with 5 JLPGA Tour Wins
Powerful Long Hitter Yoon Ina Draws Attention in Showdown

‘Beautiful golfer’ Hara Erika (Japan) will compete on the domestic stage.

‘Beautiful Golfer’ Hara Arrives in Chuncheon

Erika Hara will appear as a recommended player at the Hanwha Classic.
[Photo by Hanwha Classic Organizing Committee]

She will participate in the Hanwha Classic (total prize money 1.7 billion KRW), the first major tournament of the second half of the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, held on the 22nd at Jade Palace Golf Club (par 72, 6,797 yards) in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. She earned the opportunity to compete as a recommended player. Hara said, "I am already looking forward to being invited to the KLPGA Tour's top major tournament and competing against world-class Korean players," adding, "I will do my best to prepare so that I can show the best play to the gallery through friendly competition with Korean players."

Hara is a star player representing the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA) Tour. She has won a total of five JLPGA Tour titles, including three major championships. She is known for her powerful long drives, thanks to her tall stature of 173 cm. In this tournament, she is expected to have a distance showdown with Yoon Ina. Besides Hara, other confirmed participants include Shina Kanazawa, ranked 19th in this year's Japanese money rankings, and two-time JLPGA Tour champion Kamiya Sora (both from Japan).

Lee Hyo-song, who is about to join the JLPGA Tour, will also participate as a recommended professional player. As an amateur, she became the youngest winner at 15 years and 176 days old by winning the JLPGA Tour major tournament, the World Ladies Championship Salonpas Cup, last May. She will make her professional debut at the Hanwha Classic. Many players from the Hanwha Q CELLS Golf Team, including Ji Eun-hee, Lee Min-young, and Sung Yu-jin, who are active in the United States and Japan, will also compete in large numbers.