Choi Ye-bon and Han A-reum share KLPGA lead; champion Kim Min-sol a point back
In short
Choi Ye-bon (최예본) and Han A-reum (한아름) shared the lead on 16 points after the first round of the KLPGA Tour's HJ Heavy Industries-Dongbu Construction Championship in Yangsan on October 8. Defending champion Kim Min-sol (김민솔) made eight birdies and one bogey for 15 points, tied for third with Park Hyun-kyung (박현경) and Kim Min-sun (김민선). The 1 billion won event uses a modified Stableford scoring system.
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Choi Ye-bon (최예본) and Han A-reum (한아름) shared the lead with 16 points after the first round of the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour's HJ Heavy Industries-Dongbu Construction Championship (HJ중공업·동부건설 챔피언십) on October 8 at a par-72 course in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province. Defending champion Kim Min-sol (김민솔) was one point behind on 15, tied for third with Park Hyun-kyung (박현경) and Kim Min-sun (김민선), Yonhap and Newsis reported. Choi made nine birdies and two bogeys, and Han made eight birdies without a bogey; Newsis said both are seeking their first career win. [ 2 , 3 ]
The tournament, with total prize money of 1 billion won, uses a modified Stableford system that awards 5 points for an eagle, 2 for a birdie and 0 for par, and deducts 1 point for a bogey and 3 for a double bogey or worse. Newsis added that an albatross is worth 8 points, that the champion is decided on the four-day total, that this edition switched from stroke play, and that it is the only modified Stableford event on the KLPGA Tour. [ 2 , 3 ]
Kim Min-sol made eight birdies and one bogey, opening with three straight birdies on holes 1 to 3. Yonhap said she dropped a point at the par-4 8th after missing a short par putt and recovered with a birdie at the par-5 9th. Newsis said she also birdied the 5th and closed with three straight birdies on the 14th, 15th and 16th. According to Yonhap, her birdie putts of 5.5 metres at the 186-yard par-3 17th and 3.6 metres at the 18th stopped short of the hole. [ 2 , 3 ]
Newsis said Kim Min-sol joined the KLPGA Tour last year and won her first title at the Dongbu Construction-Korea Land Trust Championship, and has won the iM Financial Open, the 40th Mercedes-Benz Korea Women's Open and the McCol-Mona Yongpyong Open this season. Yonhap said that since her third win of the season in June she has finished second three times and third once. Yonhap noted that Park Hyun-kyung has eight career KLPGA Tour wins and Kim Min-sun has two wins this season. [ 2 , 3 ]
Seo Gyo-rim (서교림), who has four wins this season and is competing with Kim Min-sol for the most wins, made two birdies and three bogeys for 1 point and was tied for 89th; Yonhap said she played in the same group as Kim Min-sol and Kim Min-sun. Kim Min-ju (김민주), runner-up at the preceding Hite Jinro Championship, made six birdies for 12 points and was tied for 12th, Newsis reported. [ 2 , 3 ]
According to Korea Economic Daily, the sixth edition of the tournament moved to the Busan-South Gyeongsang region this year, has 108 players and runs until October 11. Dongbu Construction (동부건설), whose name the tournament carries, said it is running a booth for spectators featuring its building projects, its golf team, its Senteurebil (센트레빌) housing brand and a housing complex it is selling in Geoje, along with one-point lessons from professionals for young golfers from Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang and a charity zone whose donations will be passed on. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
Kim Min-sol, a three-time winner this season, is chasing a title defence and a fourth win of the year, while Seo Gyo-rim (서교림), who has four wins this season and is competing with her for the most wins, fell to a tie for 89th. Newsis described the tournament as the only modified Stableford event on the KLPGA Tour.
Key facts
- Choi Ye-bon and Han A-reum shared the first-round lead with 16 points. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Defending champion Kim Min-sol scored 15 points with eight birdies and one bogey, tied for third with Park Hyun-kyung and Kim Min-sun. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The tournament has total prize money of 1 billion won. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Scoring is modified Stableford: 5 points for an eagle, 2 for a birdie, 0 for par, -1 for a bogey and -3 for a double bogey or worse. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Seo Gyo-rim, a four-time winner this season, scored 1 point and was tied for 89th. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The tournament began on October 8 in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, and runs until October 11 with 108 players. [ 1 ]
- Kim Min-ju (김민주) scored 12 points and was tied for 12th. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Choi Ye-bon and Han A-reum led after the first round with 16 points. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Kim Min-sol, the defending champion, scored 15 points and was tied for third with Park Hyun-kyung and Kim Min-sun. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The championship carries total prize money of 1 billion won and is played in a modified Stableford format. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The tournament opened on October 8 at a course in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Seo Gyo-rim made two birdies and three bogeys for 1 point and was tied for 89th. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The name of the course. Korea Economic Daily and Newsis call it A-One Country Club (에이원), while Yonhap writes Ace One Country Club (에이스원).
- Dongbu Construction's promotional booth, junior golf lessons and charity donations. Reported only by Korea Economic Daily, based on the company's own announcement; the recipient of the donations is not named.
- The number of players in the field and the October 11 end date. Only Korea Economic Daily gives the field of 108 players and the closing date; Newsis says the champion is decided on the four-day total.