Participating in the Doosan Match Play, which opens on the 15th Bang Shin-sil and Yoon Ina’s long-hitting battle attracts attention
Yewon Lee evaluates her target before teeing off.
Lee Ye-won, who is aiming for the prize money winner, grand prize winner, and most wins winner on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf (KLPGA) Tour for two consecutive years, challenges to become the ‘Match Play Queen.’
Lee Ye-won will participate in the Doosan Match Play (total prize money of 900 million won), which will be held at Ladena Country Club (par 72) in Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do for five days starting on the 15th.
It is often said that match play is advantageous for long hitters, but Lee Ye-won, who plays near-perfect golf, is also strong in match play.
Lee Ye-won reached the finals of this competition as a rookie in 2022, losing to Hong Jeong-min and finishing as runner-up.
At a press conference after winning her second win of the season at the NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship on the 12th, Lee Ye-won said, “Match Play is my favorite competition,” and expressed motivation, saying, “I want to avenge my loss in the final two years ago.”
If Lee Ye-won wins the Doosan Match Play, she will surpass Park Ji-young and become the first to reach her third win of the season.
Not only will she be able to overtake Park Ji-young in the competition for prize money and grand prize points, but she will also be paving the way toward winning the most wins, which is her goal for this year.
Yewon Lee said, “Rather than being afraid of mistakes, I will try to make as many birdies as possible. Although it is physically difficult, it is a match play competition that only happens once a year, and I remember getting good results, so I am looking forward to it.”
Park Ji-young chose to take a break rather than participate in this competition.
In the group stage, Lee Ye-won met Lee Jeong-min, the youngest winner of the tournament and the record holder for the most appearances, as well as Ji Han-sol and Park Do-eun.
Lee Jeong-min, who entered the race hoping for his second win in 14 years after winning this competition in 2010 and his second win of the season, must overcome Lee Ye-won on his way to his second win of the season.
Another point to watch is the match between long hitters Bang Shin-sil and Yoon Na-na, who meet for the first time in this tournament.
This is Bang Shin-sil’s second time in this competition after last year, but Yoon Ina, who debuted in 2022, is only competing for the first time this year as she was on disciplinary action last year.
Yun Ina, the No. 1 long hitter in 2022, and last year’s long hit queen Bang Shin-sil are competing for the long hit queen position again this year.
Match play is an opportunity to truly appreciate the slugging power of both long hitters because they play games using long hits.
Although the group stage is different from each other, if Bang Shin-sil and Yoon Na-na pass the group stage side by side,win the round of 16, and advance to the quarterfinals, they will compete for a ticket to the semifinals.
It is unfortunate that Hwang Yu-min, who ranks first in long hits this year, will not participate.
Hong Jeong-min, the 2022 champion, aims to regain the top spot after two years.
Ja-young Kim (201, 2017) is the only player to win this competition twice, which started in 2008.
2021 winner Park Min-ji and last year’s champion Sung Yu-jin will also not participate. 성인웹툰