While ‘who wins’ is important, ‘who survives’ is also one of the main points of interest at the SK networks-Seoul Economic Ladies Classic on the Korean Ladies Professional Golf (KLPGA) Tour. For some, it’s a fight for survival to avoid a round of hell.
The round of hell refers to the 2024 season seeding battle at Muan CC in Jeonnam for a spot in the next season. The qualifiers will be held on Nov. 7-10 and the main event on Nov. 14-17, and players must be in the top 80 on the season’s money list, which includes their performance at the Seoul Economic Classic, which is underway this week, to qualify for the exemptions that will be given to the 20 players ranked 61-80 on the money list. This is why the first two rounds of the tournament are so important for the top 80 players.
Currently, Cho Eun-hye (25) is ranked 80th on the money list (9.91 million won) and Ko Ji-won (19) is ranked 81st (9.86 million won). Ko Ji-won, better known as the younger brother of Ko Go-woo (21), who won his first career title at the McCall-Mona Yongpyong Open in July, is 380,000 won shy of qualifying. After playing on the Jump Tour (3rd) and Dream Tour (2nd) last year, he made his regular tour debut this year at No. 20 on the seeding list, but has yet to record a top-10 finish in 26 tournaments this season. Playing in a group with fellow Jeju players such as her sister Ko Go-woo and Hyun Se-lin, Ko had high hopes for the day, but her step was heavy as she shot a 1-over par.
In Ju-yeon In, 83rd on the money list, Jeon Woo-ri, 86th, and Kim Si-won, 87th, are also fighting for their lives on the edge of a cliff. “I know how important this tournament is,” said Jeon, who got off to a solid start at 2-under, “but I try not to think about it as much as possible. It’s nice to think, ‘I’m going to finish in the top 10 and move up the money list,’ but I think I’ll do better if I play as low as I can.”굿모닝토토 도메인
With only three tournaments left, including this one, the top 60 players can’t rest easy. They need to be in the top 70 on the money list by next week’s event to qualify for the season finale, and they need to be in the top 60 on the money list by the final event to keep their Tour cards without a seeding battle. Lee will need to work diligently this week to move up the money list.
The likes of 60th-ranked Lee Chae-eun, 65th-ranked Kim Ji-hyun, and 70th-ranked Hong Jin-young will have their work cut out for them. “I came to Jeju with the determination to go to hell on the plane, but I’m happy to play well on the first day,” said Lee Chae-eun, who saw hope in her 8-under-par tie for first place. I think I need to play well on the remaining three days.” Kim Ji-hyun and Hong Jin-young also started at five under par.