Hyunkyung Park Draws with Gyeol Park... Begins Quest for Second Consecutive Title

0.5 Points Earned in First Round of Doosan Matchplay
Park Gyeol Secures Dramatic Draw with Final-Hole Birdie
Lee Dongeun Defeats Cho Hyerim by 1 Hole in Same Group

Hyunkyung Park had a fierce match against Gyeol Park.

Hyunkyung Park is teeing off on the 4th hole in the first round of the Doosan Matchplay group stage. Doosan Matchplay

On May 14, at the Ladena Golf Club (par 72, 6,384 yards) in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, Hyunkyung Park recorded a draw with Gyeol Park in the first round of the group stage at the 17th Doosan Matchplay on the KLPGA Tour (total prize money: 1 billion KRW). Last year’s champion, Hyunkyung Park, is competing in the group stage against Gyeol Park, Dong-eun Lee, and Hyerim Cho. A win earns 1 point, a draw earns 0.5 points, and a loss earns 0 points. Her next opponent in the second round will be Hyerim Cho.

Over 15 holes, Hyunkyung Park and Gyeol Park each won 3 holes, making it difficult for either player to gain the upper hand. Park took a 1-hole lead by making par on the 16th hole (par 3), but was unable to secure victory after allowing Gyeol Park a birdie on the final 18th hole (par 5).

Hyunkyung Park is aiming to become the first player in tournament history to win back-to-back titles. Last week, she finished tied for 8th at the World Ladies Championship Salonpas Cup, a JLPGA Tour major held at Ibaraki Golf Club in Ibaraki, Japan, but struggled against the tenacity of Gyeol Park. In the same group, Dong-eun Lee secured the first win by defeating Hyerim Cho by 1 hole.

Compared to last year, the total prize money for the Doosan Matchplay has increased by 100 million KRW. Sixty-four players are divided into sixteen groups of four for the group stage, and the winner of each group advances to the round of 16, where the champion is determined in a knockout format. The winner’s prize is 250 million KRW.