No Seunghee Says, "Excited and Happy to Challenge for Back-to-Back Titles"

Chasing a Rare Back-to-Back Victory at the 39th Korea Women's Open
Aiming to Defend the Title for the First Time Since Song Bobae in 2004
Top Fairway Accuracy: Betting on Precision Shots for the Win

No Seunghee is aiming for a remarkable record after 21 years.

From June 12, the 39th DB Group Korea Women's Open, a national title event with a total prize fund of 1.2 billion won, will be held for four days at Rainbow Hills (par 72, 6,767 yards) in Eumseong-gun, Chungbuk. No Seunghee will compete for the championship. If she wins this tournament, she will become the first player in 21 years to successfully defend her title.

No Seunghee aims for back-to-back wins after 21 years at the 39th DB Group Korea Women's Open. Photo by KLPGA

The Korea Women's Open began in 1987. Only four players have achieved back-to-back victories: Go Usun (1988, 1989), Kim Mihyun (1995, 1996), Kang Sooyoun (2000, 2001), and Song Bobae (2003, 2004). Since Song Bobae's consecutive wins, there has not been a repeat champion for 20 years. This has made the Korea Women's Open famous as a tournament where consecutive victories are extremely rare. The player with the most wins in this event is Go Usun, who has claimed three titles.

However, No Seunghee has a strong chance of winning back-to-back titles. Rainbow Hills, the venue for the tournament, is a course that favors players who manage their game strategically with precise shots rather than relying on long drives. From 2021 to last year, the winners at this course?Park Minji, Lim Heejeong, Hong Jiwon, and No Seunghee?were not long hitters, but are all known for their accuracy and excellent putting skills.

No Seunghee boasts the highest fairway hit rate on the KLPGA Tour at 83.49%. She is recognized as the most accurate driver on the tour, with some even saying her driver accuracy rivals that of a wedge. She is recalling the happy memory of her wire-to-wire victory last year.

She said, "As the Korea Women's Open approaches, I naturally recall the moment of my victory. My first win was not only a national title but also at a major tournament," adding, "It was the brightest moment in my golf career. I am excited and happy to take on the new challenge of defending my title." She continued, "The Korea Women's Open is an honorable tournament that every player wants to win. I want to become a player with the skills and character worthy of a champion. I will do my best to lift the trophy once again."