Seo Jin-jin won against Lee Ye-won, and Park Ji-young won after overtime against Park Min-ji.
The 12 winners will decide the championship tomorrow through stroke play.
Min-seon Kim (21) defeated Ina Yoon (21), who won three gold medals this season, in the Wemix Championship (total prize money of 1 million Wemix, approximately 1.112 billion won), a competition of the Korean Ladies Professional Golf (KLPGA) Tour.
Min-seon Kim beat Ina Yoon by 2 holes with 3 holes remaining in the match play on the first day of the tournament held at Haeundae Beach Golf & Resort (par 72) in Gijang-gun, Busan on the 16th.
Yoon Ina is the star of this season’s KLPGA Tour, dominating three major categories including prize money, grand prize, and average stroke, but Kim Min-seon, who has not yet won a regular tour, caused an upset.
Kim Min-seon is the same age as Yoon Ina, but her tour debut was a year later. He debuted on the regular tour last year and ranked 4th in the Rookie of the Year Award with 3 top 10 finishes, including runner-up once.
This season, in her second year on the tour, she secured the right to participate in this tournament by finishing in the top 10 five times, including taking second place at the MBN Women’s Open.
Min-seon Kim was first taken by Ina Yoon, who recorded a birdie on the 7th hole (par 5) in the first half. However, he tied the score with a birdie on the 9th hole (par 4), the last hole of the first half.
Min-seon Kim took the lead again with a birdie at the 10th hole (par 3), the first hole of the second half, and widened the gap by making an eagle after 2 on at the 12th hole (par 5).
He then added a birdie at the 14th hole (par 5) to widen the gap to 3 holes, and after allowing chase at the 15th hole (par 4), he finished the game by catching a birdie again at the 16th hole (par 4).
Yoon Ina, who achieved three gold medals this season, was worried about participating in this competition due to ankle pain. On this day, he was not able to show his best condition and became a victim of an unexpected incident.
Seo Eun-jin (23) also became the protagonist of the incident. Seo Jin-jin won by 2 holes against Lee Ye-won (21), who achieved three gold medals last year and this year’s multiple wins leader (3 wins).
Park Ji-young (28), the joint leader in most wins, won a dramatic victory with a birdie on the 19th hole after a playoff with Park Min-ji (26).
In addition, Lee Dong-eun, Hwang Yu-min, Bae So-hyun, Kim Su-ji, Noh Seung-hee, Park Hyun-kyung, Lee Je-young, Lee Ga-young, and Ji Han-sol won the match play on this day.
The 12 winners will head to ‘Final A’ and the winner will be determined through stroke play on the 17th.
This competition has a unique method of paying prize money in virtual currency instead of cash. The winner will receive 250,000 Wemix (approximately 279 million won) as prize money, and the last place winner will receive 10,000 Wemix (approximately 11.15 million won).
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How has Kim Min-seon’s victory impacted her future in the KLPGA?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Golf Expert David Cho
[Scene opens with the Time.news editor seated across from David Cho, an expert on women’s golf and reporter for KLPGA events.]
Editor: Welcome, David. It’s great to have you here to discuss the recent results from the Wemix Championship. What an incredible day of golf it was!
David Cho: Thanks for having me! It really was an exciting day. The competition brought out some remarkable performances from the players.
Editor: Absolutely. The highlight was Kim Min-seon’s impressive victory over the season’s star, Ina Yoon. Can you tell us what made Kim’s performance so special in this match?
David Cho: Certainly! Kim Min-seon displayed exceptional skill under pressure. Despite starting off trailing to Yoon, she managed to keep her composure and bounce back, tying the score at the 9th hole. Her ability to respond to Yoon’s birdie with one of her own truly showcased her competitive spirit.
Editor: That’s a great point. Yoon has been dominating the tour this season, yet Kim managed to cause an upset. What do you think contributed to Kim’s victory over such a formidable opponent?
David Cho: One key factor was Kim’s strategic play, particularly her decision-making during crucial moments. Her eagle on the 12th hole was a game changer. She not only regained the lead but also expanded her advantage significantly. On top of that, Kim has been building momentum this season with consistent top finishes, which likely boosted her confidence entering this match.
Editor: It sounds like experience in a competitive atmosphere played a role as well, despite her being a rookie. Speaking of which, how do you see Kim’s trajectory in the tour moving forward after this upset?
David Cho: This victory will surely be a turning point for Kim. She has already proven that she can go toe-to-toe with the best in the game, including someone like Ina Yoon, who has multiple accolades this season. If she continues to capitalize on this momentum, I wouldn’t be surprised to see her in contention for more titles in the future.
Editor: The championship is on the horizon as well. What can we expect from the 12 finalists, and who do you think has the upper hand going into stroke play?
David Cho: The stroke play format usually favors consistency, and with only one round to play, players will need to remain focused. Yoon will want redemption after this loss, but we also have to watch out for players like Park Ji-young, who is also performing well. It will be fascinating to see how the dynamics change among the players after today’s matches.
Editor: Definitely! It’s shaping up to be an exciting finale. Before we wrap up, any final thoughts on what this tournament means for the KLPGA and women’s golf as a whole?
David Cho: This tournament is significant for the KLPGA as it showcases the depth of talent within women’s golf in Korea. Events like these not only elevate the players’ profiles but also inspire the next generation of golfers. It’s a thrilling time for women’s golf, and I can’t wait to see where these athletes will take the sport.
Editor: Thank you, David! Your insights are incredibly valuable, and I look forward to seeing how the championship unfolds.
David Cho: Thank you for having me! Let’s hope for an exciting end to the tournament.
[The interview concludes with both smiling as the scene fades out.]