Weekend Picks

GOLF

KLPGA Tour

OK Savings Bank Pak Seri Invitational

Friday to Sunday, Solmoro Country Club, Yeoju, Gyeonggi

This is the only event in the KLPGA Tour that has a golfer’s name. Hall of Fame golfer Pak Se-ri, who has 25 wins in the U.S. LPGA Tour, has been sponsoring the event since last year.

Pak, 38, originally planned to compete in the event, but she withdrew due to a shoulder injury.

Chun In-gee, who is the prize money leader in the KLPGA Tour with four wins, is absent as she has decided to compete in the Japan Women’s Open Golf Championship, while Ahn Shin-ae, the winner of the KLPGA Championship, is also out due to elbow pain.

However, 120 other top golfers in the nation will be playing in the event, which has a total purse of 600 million won ($510,000).

Defending champion Lee Min-young, who came back to the tour after kidney cancer treatment, aims to repeat her success, while No. 2 and No. 3 prize money leaders Lee Jung-min and Cho Yoon-ji are considered top contenders.

Ko Jin-young, who has three wins this season, and Park Sung-hyun, who has two wins, including a major, are dark horses.

KPGA Korean Tour

Descente Korea Munsingwear Matchplay Championship

Thursday to Sunday, 88 Country Club, Yongin, Gyeonggi

This is the only tournament in the tour with a matchplay format. The event started on Thursday with 64 golfers vying for the 200 million won prize.

Defending champion Lee Ki-sang had high expectations of winning the tournament, as the 29-year-old collected his two wins in the tour matchplay events. However, Lee lost Kim Seong-yong on Thursday, failing to reach round of 32.

While the tour’s prize money leader Lee Kyoung-hoon, who has 315 million won, is not in the event, Choi Jin-ho, Lee Su-min and Lee Tae-hee, who have all collected more than 200 million won, are hoping to chase him with a victory in this event.