South Korean golfers suffered an embarrassing defeat in the group stage of the US Women’s Professional Golf (LPGA) Tour’s Bank of Hope Match Play ($1.5 million purse).
LPGA Tour rookie Hae-ran Lee (22, Daol Financial Group) took a three-hole lead over Kim Ah-rim (28, Hanwha Q CELLS) with one hole to play on the third day of the tournament at Shadow Creek Golf Club (Par 72, 6804 yards) in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, on 27 July.
Hae-ran Hwang had won two straight matches after dropping her first round match against Lindsey Weaver Wright (USA). However, she finished second in the group behind Weaver Wright, who won 2 and 1, and failed to advance to the round of 16.메이저사이트
Kim finished the tournament without a win, going 1-2-2.
The only event on the LPGA Tour to be played in match-play format, the tournament is played in a different way to regular tournaments. The 64 players are grouped into four groups of four, with the winner of each group advancing to the round of 16. The winner is then determined in a tournament format.
The match was tightly contested until the fourth hole, with Hae-ran and Kim exchanging wins and losses. At the seventh (par-5), Hae-ran saved par to take a one-shot lead over Kim, who bogeyed.
At the 11th (par-4), Hae-ran birdied to extend her lead to two. She then birdied the 17th (par-3) to seal the victory.
Shin Ji-Eun (31, Q CELLS, Korea) improved to 2-1 with a one-hole victory over Linnia Strom (SWE). However, she lost the top spot in the group to Riona Maguire (IRL), who defeated Annalynn (27, MediHill) in three. Annarin finished the tournament with a 1-2 record.
Other Korean players failed to secure a win on the day. Defending champion Ji-hee Ji (37, Hankook Q CEL) lost a two-hole lead to Lynn Grant (SWE) with one hole to play, ending her two-game winning streak at 1-2.
Lee Jung-six (27‧Daebang E&C) lost her match against Brooke Henderson (CAN) after falling four shots behind with two holes remaining. In the same group, Hong Ye-eun (21‧CJ) lost her third straight match to Sophia Schubert (USA). Kim Se-Young (30, Medi Hill) drew with Cheyenne Knight (USA).
Meanwhile, world No. 1-3 Jin Young Ko (28-Solare), Nellie Coda (USA) and Lydia Ko (NZL) did not compete in the event.