The top players on the Korean Ladies Professional Golf (KLPGA) Tour for the 2023 season will go head-to-head for the title of the 11th E1 Charity Open ($900,000).
Park, who leads the KLPGA Tour in money and points this season, carded seven birdies, one bogey and a double bogey for a 4-under 68 on the second day at Seongmunan Country Club (Par 72, 6,602 yards) in Wonju, Gangwon Province, on Sunday.
With a two-round total of 7-under par 137, Park finished the second round tied for the lead with Bang Shin-sil and Kim Hee-ji.
Bang Shin-sil
[Photo courtesy of the KLPGA Tour. Resale and DB prohibited].
Bang, who recently emerged as the KLPGA Tour’s “Rising Star,” had five birdies and two bogeys on the day to shave three strokes off her score and finish at 7-under 137.
Bang will be playing in her third Champions Group event in as many months, following a fourth-place finish at the KLPGA Championship in late April and a third-place finish at the NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship two weeks ago.
Kim Hee-ji was the best player in the field with six birdies without a bogey on the day and is tied for the lead at 6-under par.
Kim Hee-ji
[Image courtesy of the KLPGA Tour. Resale and DB prohibited].
Park, who has five career wins, will be looking for her first victory in five months since the Hana Financial Group Singapore Women’s Open last December. The Singapore event is the first of the 2023 season and a win would give Park her first two wins of the season.
Bang Shin-sil and Kim Hee-ji are yet to win a regular tour title.
After the second round, which was played in the rain, Park, Bang and Kim are joined in a tie for fourth place at 6-under 138, one stroke behind the leaders.
Lee Jung-min, Hyun Se-lin and Seo Yeon-jung are tied for fifth at 5-under 139.
Sophomore amateur Sumin Oh shot a 5-under-par on the day메이저놀이터, giving her a two-round total of 3-under 141 and a tie for 13th place.
Oh also tied for ninth at the Gyochon Ladies Open in April.
Choi Hye-jin, who plays on the U.S. Women’s Professional Golf (LPGA) Tour, tied for 26th at 1-under 143.
A number of big names missed the cut.
Last year’s winner Jung Yun-ji (2-over 146), the two-time Most Popular Player winner Lim Hee-jeong (3-over 147), the two-time money winner Park Min-ji (4-over 148), and this season’s Rookie of the Year Kim Min-byul (4-over 148) missed the 1-over par cut.