Sung Yu-jin looks to defend title as LPGA golfers jet in for Lotte Open

Sung Yu-jin hits a shot during the Lotte Open at Bear’s Best Cheongna Golf Club in Incheon on June 3, 2022. [KLPGA]

Sung Yu-jin looks to defend her title at the Lotte Open that tees off at Bear’s Best Cheongna Golf Club in Incheon on Thursday as two LPGA golfers join the 132-strong field.

Sung, 23, has won two KLPGA titles, with her first at the Lotte Open June last year and second at the Doosan Match Play Championship on May 21.

She came to prominence after lifting the Lotte Open trophy with a wire-to-wire run.

“I am a little concerned because of a finger injury, but I feel like my shots and putts are really good,” Sung said during a pre-tournament press conference on Tuesday. “I will do my best to defend my title as I compete without getting sick.”

Sung’s title defense will not be easy, as two golfers from the LPGA Tour — Kim Hyo-joo and Cho Hye-jin — will also be joining the field to win the event hosted by their sponsor.

Kim has 13 KLPGA titles and won the Lotte Open in 2020.

“I am excited and nervous about meeting fans at a KLPGA event for the first time in a long time,” Kim said. “I feel like I have to do better.”

Choi is especially keen to get the win on home soil.

“It is true that I have more desire for the title because I have not won an event by my sponsor,” Choi said.

KLPGA golfers Lee Da-yeon, Lee Ye-won, Choi Eun-woo, Park Bo-kyeom and Im Jin-hee will all be looking for their second trophy of the season in Incheon.

The winner of the Lotte Open will not only earn 144 million won ($106,000) in prize money, but will also be eligible to compete in the LPGA Lotte Championship next year as an invitee, as was the case last year.

Sung, the 2022 Lotte Open champion, competed in the Lotte Championship in Hawaii in April and narrowly missed an LPGA title after finishing second.

Park Do-eun paired with Lee Seong-yeong2 and Jeong Ju-won will be the first to tee off on the first hole at 6:50 a.m., the same time Kwon Seo-yeon, Kim Hae-rym and Kim Ka-young start on the 10th hole.

Choi will then tee off on the same hole at 8:35 a.m. alongside Lee Ye-won and Lim Hee-jeong, followed by Sung on the first hole at 12:25 p.m. with Lee Da-yeon and Kim Hyo-joo.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]