Oh Su-min hits an iron shot. Photo courtesy of KLPGA
The World Ladies Championship Salonpas Cup, the first major tournament of the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA) Tour season, has been won by Korean players for two consecutive years. National team member Lee Hyo-song claimed the title in 2024, followed by Shin Ji-yai last year. This year, another Korean player is in contention to win. The contender is national team member Oh Su-min, 18, who is preparing to turn professional.
Oh carded three birdies and two bogeys for a 1-under 71 in the second round held Saturday at Ibaraki Golf Club (par 72) in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, finishing at 3-under 141 to share second place. She trails solo leader Yuzuki Okubo of Japan, who stands at 5-under 139, by two strokes.
Oh has drawn even more attention at this tournament with her powerful driving. Through two rounds, she leads the field in driving distance at an average of 285.5 yards, more than 15 yards ahead of second-place Laila Annai of Japan at 270.25 yards. She drove the ball 311 yards on the 17th hole (par 5) on Saturday, the only player in the field to exceed 300 yards.
Kim Seo-a moves to the next hole. Photo courtesy of KLPGA
Lee Min-young, who plays on the Japanese tour, is tied for ninth at 1-over 145, while Yoo Hyun-jo reached the turn tied for 30th at 4-over 148 along with Song Ga-eun.
Kim Hyo-joo walks off after a putt. Photo courtesy of KLPGA
At the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour’s NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship, which has drawn attention for the participation of world No. 3 Ko Jin-young, an amateur long hitter is also making headlines. She is Kim Seo-a, a 14-year-old amateur in her second year of middle school.
In the first round held Saturday at the New Course of Suwon Country Club (par 72) in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Kim averaged 255.57 yards off the tee to rank eighth in driving distance. Seven players drove the ball farther than Kim across the two holes where driving distance was measured, but she was the only player to exceed 290 yards on two occasions that day. Kim Na-hyun, who led the field in driving distance at an average of 271.4 yards across the two holes, exceeded 290 yards on only one hole. Kim Seo-a, by contrast, drove 292.9 yards on the 17th hole (par 5) and followed it up with a 292.5-yard drive on the 18th hole (par 4). Paired with KLPGA star long hitter Bang Shin-sil in a driving-distance showdown, Kim briefly contended for the lead before a bogey-and-double-bogey stretch on the back nine left her tied for 45th at 2-over 74.
Rookie Choi Jung-won topped the leaderboard after carding five birdies for a 5-under 67. Moon Jung-min sits alone in second at 4-under 68, while Yoon Su-a and Kim Ji-su share third at 3-under 69.
Choi Jeong-won takes the outright lead. Photo courtesy of KLPGA
Several high-profile players are bunched at 2-under 70 in a tie for fifth. The group includes Ko Jin-young, who recorded two bogey-free birdies, along with Im Hee-jung, Park Hyun-kyung, Bang Shin-sil, Lee Ye-won and Kim Min-sun7.
Lee Ye-won (left) and Kim Min-sol play a round together. Photo courtesy of KLPGA
Kim Min-sol, who leads both the money list and the Player of the Year points race, closed her first round at 1-under 71 in a tie for 15th.
AloJapan.com