Sixteen Koreans join field at ShopRite LPGA Classic

Kim In-kyung tees off on the third hole during the final round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic on June 4, 2017, in Galloway Township, New Jersey. [AP/YONHAP]

The ShopRite LPGA Classic tees off on Friday at Seaview Golf Club in Galloway, New Jersey with 144 golfers competing for the title in the absence of some big names like world No. 1 Ko Jin-young and Lilia Vu.

First started in 1986, the ShopRite is a 54-hole stroke-play, with a cut to the top 65 golfers after Saturday’s second round.

Multiple former champions of the tournament will join the field, including defending champion Brooke Henderson of Canada.

The event’s most recent Korean winner Kim In-kyung, the 2017 champion, will also compete as she looks to secure her first title of the season.

The 34-year-old has not come close to winning a trophy this season, with her best finish being tied for 33rd at the JM Eagle LA Championship in April. She has not won a title since 2017.

Another notable Korean golfer joining the field is Kim Hyo-joo, who has yet to win a title despite showing a solid performance this season.

Kim Hyo-joo, ranked at No. 8 on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, has managed top-10 finish three times this season. This may be her chance to become the fourth Korean champion at ShopRite.

Ko, who has won the HSBC Women’s World Championship and Cognizant Founders Cup this season, is skipping the event.

Three other top-10 golfers alongside Kim Hyo-joo will be competing: No. 6 Atthaya Thitikul, No. 9 Georgia Hall and No. 10 Brooke Henderson.

Fourteen other Korean golfers are joining the field — Jang Hyo-joon, Hong Yae-eun, Park Kum-kang, Jenny Shin, Chella Choi, Kang Hae-ji, Joo Soo-bin, Lee Il-hee, Park Sung-hyun, Ryu Hae-ran, Kim Sei-young, Lee Jeong-eun5, Lee Jeong-eun6, Lee Mi-hyang,

Jang will be the first Korean to tee off on the 10th hole with Riley Rennell and Charlotte Thomas at 7:46 a.m.

Kim Hyo-joo will then start on the same hole with Yuna Nishimura and Jenny Shin, followed by Kim In-kyung at 1:25 p.m. on the first hole alongside Emily Kristine Pedersen and Esther Henseleit.

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