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| ▲ This photo, provided by KB Financial Group, shows the poster for KB Financial STAR Championship. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ This photo shows Park In-bee. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ This photo shows Kim Hyo-joo. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ This photo, provided by KLPGA, shows Park Min-ji. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Sep. 7 (Yonhap) -- KB Financial Group STAR Championship (with 1.2 billion won total prize money), the 4th major of Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) of Korea Tour will be held for 4 days from the Sep. 9 at BLACK STONE Icheon Golf Club (Par-72 6,689 yard).
Park In-bee (33), Kim Hyo-joo (26) and Chun In-gee (27) who actively played for the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour will compete with South Korea’s domestic players Park Min-ji (23), Jang Ha-na (29), Park Hyun-kyung (21), and Choi Hye-jin (22).
This is the first domestic competion for Park In-bee, who participated in Tokyo 2020 Olympics, in 13 months after Jeju Samdasoo Masters in August 2020
“I have strengthened up my condition taking breaks and training after AIG Women’s Open. I tried to grasp the course by having practice rounds for 3 times,” said Park who also participated in AIG Women’s Open in England after the Olympics but has stayed in top 50.
Kim Hyo-joo who was also a player in the Tokyo Olympics will attempt 2 consecutive victories for the upcoming competition. This is her first competition after the Olympics.
The domestic players include Park Min-ji who has a record of 6 victories for the season, Jang Ha-na top average number of strokes and Park Hyun-kyung, 2nd place prize-winner.
Park Min-ji, winner of 1st prize-winner of the season, will be able to exceed that of Park Sung-hyun (28), winner of the most prize money (1 billion 333.09 million won) in KLPGA Tour, If he receives over 4th rank’s prize (60 million won).
“I remember BLACK STONE Icheon was quite challenging and fun. I am looking forward to the upcoming event although it will be difficult, but my scores are improving every year. I wish to perform well as a representative of KLPGA,” said Park.
National players Bang Sin-sil (17) and Lee Jung-hyun (15) and a representative standby Park Ye-ji (16) have been recommended to compete with the ‘pro sister.’
Although the competition will take place without audiences due to the spread of the COVID-19 infection, it will operate a ‘metaverse platform’ for a gallery to take part in virtual spaces.
In the gallery, fans create characters and can cheer online controlling their avatars.
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