Park Hyun-kyung finished a disappointing runner-up at the Doosan Match Play Championship 2023 (KRW 900 million in prize money, KRW 225 million for the winner) at the par-72, 6,350-yard Ladena Golf Club in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, on Monday.메이저놀이터
Heading into the final, Park’s meeting with Park Ji-young in the round of 16 felt more like a friendly competition than a match.
The two players faced each other side-by-side in the round of 16 on Tuesday. The two players, who are main sponsors of the Korea Land Trust, are as close as sisters.
They are currently ranked first and second in the 2023 season prize pool. Park, who won the season-opening Hana Financial Group Singapore Women’s Open, has earned $482.5 million, while Hyun Kyung Park has $360.1 million.
When the two met on the first tee, they stretched and practiced their swings without saying a word. After hitting their respective tee shots with vigor, Park and Park posed side-by-side with their hats pointing to the main sponsor’s markings on top of their hats. They then moved to the second tee and continued their pleasant conversation.
It was a different atmosphere from the other group players, who only exchanged pleasantries and minded their own business under the pressure of match play.
Park birdied the first hole to take a one-shot lead. Park birdied the 3rd hole to tie the match. Park birdied the 6th, 9th, 10th, and 12th holes, while Park took the 7th and 15th holes, but the match ended on the 17th hole with a two-hole difference.
Park hugged her quarterfinalist and said, “If you lose as soon as you get to the quarterfinals, I won’t let you go.” The year before, Park Hyun-kyung had won against Park Ji-young in the round of 16 before falling in the quarterfinals.
Park Hyun-kyung (left) and Park Ji-young hit powerful tee shots during their Match Play Round of 16 match.
Park Hyun-kyung and Park Ji-young pose with the logos of their sponsors.
Park Hyun-kyung and Park Ji-young chatting as they move to their second shot.
After hearing Park Ji-young’s story, Park Hyun-kyung shared her sincerity, saying, “I feel like I want the player who overcame me to win.”
Meanwhile, Sung Yoo-jin won the ‘2023 KLPGA Tour Doosan Match Play Championship’ (total prize money 900 million won) with a four-hole victory over Park Hyun-kyung with three holes remaining. It was her second win in 11 months after winning her first career title at the Lotte Open in June 2022.
[Park Hyun-kyung (left) and Park Ji-young are all smiles as they head for the second shot.