Park Min-ji looks to go three in a row at Celltrion Queens Masters

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Park Min-ji looks to go three in a row at Celltrion Queens Masters

Published: 08 Jun. 2023, 17:52 Updated: 08 Jun. 2023, 18:09

Park Min-ji hits a shot during the Celltrion Queens Masters at Seolhaeone country club in Yangyang, Gangwon on June 12, 2022. [NEWS1]

The Celltrion Queens Masters tees off on Friday at Seolhaeone country club in Yangyang, Gangwon, with Park Min-ji looking to win a third consecutive trophy at the event.

Park Min-ji, the winningest golfer of the tournament as well as on the KLPGA Tour with 16 titles, has managed her second straight win last year with a wire-to-wire run.

“Winning the title for the second time in a row was not easy, and it is such an honor that I can challenge a big record,” Park Min-ji said during a pre-tournament press conference on Monday. “I will do my very best to achieve a third consecutive title.

“I will work to have patience and aggressiveness in this tournament.”

The tournament is a 54-hole stroke-play and may be a chance for the 24-year-old to secure her first title this season.

Park Min-ji has yet to manage a KLPGA win this season, despite having won six events last season.

Multiple winners — Lee Jung-min, Lee Ye-won, Lee Joo-mi, Choi Eun-woo, Lee Da-yeon, Park Bo-kyeom and Im Jin-hee — who all have managed one title apiece, will be competing to become this season’s first multi-winner.

Bang Shin-sil also joins the field in good form, having won her first-ever title at the E1 Charity Open on May 28. She now has a KLPGA Tour card thanks to that title.

“I am nervous and excited since this is the first tournament that I will compete at with a Tour card,” Bang said. “I want to show my prowess as much as possible in this tournament as I am getting a lot of people are supporting me and paying attention to me.”

Lee Seung-yeon paired with Kim Jae-hee and Chung Si-woo will be the first to tee off at 6:50 a.m.

Park Min-ji will then start alongside Park Ji-young and Park Hyun-kyung at 8:25 a.m. followed by Bang at 12:15 p.m. with Lee Joo-mi and Lee Ye-won.

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