Gangwon golfer Park Ji-young (26, from Wonju) won the opening match of the 2023 season of the Korean Women’s Professional Golf (KLPGA) Tour.
Ji-Young Park played until the 2nd round as the 3rd round of the KLPGA Tour Hana Financial Group Singapore Women’s Open (total prize money: 1.1 million Singapore dollars) held at the Tanamera Country Club (par 72, 6,486 yards) in Singapore on the 11th (Korean time) was canceled due to lightning strikes. He rose to the top in terms of grades. Until the second round the day before, Park Ji-young was running her solo first place with 11 under par 133 strokes.
The match was suspended from 8:50 am (local time) due to the risk of lightning strikes in accordance with Singapore government guidelines. Since then, a total of four suspensions have resulted in the game not being resumed until noon. The KLPGA Tour 토토 Match Committee eventually canceled the 3rd round and decided to end this tournament based on the 36-hole performance until the 2nd round. According to the KLPGA tour rules, a tournament that has completed all 36 holes is recognized as an official tournament and 100% of the prize money is paid. Park Ji-young received 198,000 Singapore dollars (approximately 190 million won) as the prize money for her victory in the tournament.
Park Ji-young, who had the honor of winning the opening game of the 2023 season, achieved her 5th tour victory in 8 months after the Mediheal and Hankook Ilbo Championships in April. Park Ji-young, who also won the Hyosung Championship in the opening game of the 2019 season held in Vietnam in December 2018, set a record of 2 wins in the season opener and 2 wins in the Southeast Asian national championship out of a total of 5 wins. In an interview after winning the championship, Park Ji-young said, “I didn’t expect to win like this. I think it’s a lucky win to work hard next year.” I think the successful par putt was the decisive moment for winning the championship,” he said. Next, when asked about the reason why they are strong in Southeast Asia, Park Ji-young replied, “The food suits them so well. Especially since the temperature is warm, I think they fit better.” Finally, regarding the goal for the next season, Park Ji-young said, “I won this year, but I feel regretful.” “Especially, I couldn’t take advantage of the opportunity due to the lack of short games. “He promised.
Hong Jeong-min (20), Lee So-young (25), and Park Hyun-kyung (22) tied for second place with 10 under par and 134 strokes. Another Kangwon golfer, Lim Hee-jung (from Taebaek, 22), who competed together, recorded a total of 8 under par and 136 strokes, finishing the first tournament of the new season in a tie for 6th place with Lee So-mi (23) and Kim Hae-rim (33). Last season’s prize money king Park Min-ji (24) finished the tournament with 7-under-par 137 strokes and a tie for ninth place along with this year’s LPGA Tour rookie king Ataya Titikkun (19, Thailand). The KLPGA tour will hold the second tournament of the 2023 season with the PLK Pacific Rings Korea Championship (total prize money of 700 million won) for three days from the 16th, when the venue is moved to Vietnam.