Jeon In-ji, Park Sung-hyun set to have 2nd showdown

Jeon In-ji, Park Sung-hyun set to have 2nd showdown. October. 19, 2016 07:36. by 김종석기자 kjs0123@donga.com. Park Sung-hyun (23) played in the same group with Jeon In-ji (22) in the first and second rounds of the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship, which took place in Incheon last week. The two golfers, who attracted thousands of golf fans, finished the tournament tying for 13th to display a neck-and-neck race.

Park and Jeon, who are the biggest attraction for an event’s success, will have a return match in a week after their latest showdown. The two rivals will face off again in the same group in the first and second rounds of the KB Financial Group Star Championship, which is the last major event of the Korean LPGA Tour, which will take place for four days from Friday at Lakewood Country Club (par 72) in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province. The two players are thus set to play together in all three major competitions that they both are taking part for one month since the LPGA Tour’s Evian Championship. “I have been mulling over the participation at the LPGA Tour next year, and In-ji told me many good tips,” Park said. “She advised me to hire a foreigner manager if I wish to break the language barrier.”

Park and Jeon are considered leading candidates for the champion. Park ranks first in multiple wins (seven wins), prize money (1.262 billion won or 1.12 million dollars), and average par (69.67) in this season’s KLPGA Tour. If Park secures her first major event title of this season and 160 million won (140,000 dollars) in winner’s prize of the upcoming KB tournament, she will confirm‎ her status as the top earner.

Jeon In-ji, who is ranking eighth in the world rankings, the highest among Korean golfers, has continued her strides by winning the rookie of the year award from the LPGA Tour. As the defending champion, Jeon aims to defend her title in her final domestic event in this season.