Six Korean golfers earn LPGA Tour cards at Q-Series

Golf

Published: 07 Dec. 2023, 10:26 Updated: 07 Dec. 2023, 17:44

Six Korean golfers earn LPGA Tour cards at Q-Series

Lee So-mi poses with the tour card after the sixth round of LPGA Q-Series on Wednesday in Mobile, Alabama. [AFP/YONHAP]

Six more Korean golfers have earned their LPGA Tour cards for the 2024 season after the final round of the annual qualifying Q-Series, which wrapped up Wednesday in Mobile, Alabama.

Jeon Ji-won and Kang Min-ji earn LPGA Tour cards

Lee So-mi, the moving day leader, finished tied for runner-up along with Japan’s Mao Saigo after carding a one-over-par, 73, on the last day — her highest stroke count of the tournament. Both carded 26-under-par, 404, overall to earn $10,250 along with spots on next year’s Tour.

Lee So-mi plays her shot from the fourth tee during the sixth round of LPGA Q-Series on Wednesday in Mobile, Alabama. [AFP/YONHAP]

Lee is currently ranked No. 9 in the KLPGA and holds five career titles, with her most recent win coming from the S-Oil Championship in 2022.

Korea’s Jang Hyo-joon and Sung Yu-jin finished in a three-way tie for seventh along with Japan’s Yuri Yoshida with a 19-under-par, 411.

Im Jin-hee, No. 4 in the KLPGA, finished in six-way-tie for 17th with 13-under-par, 417, and Lee Jong-eun5 finished in a four-way tie for 23rd with a 12-under-par, 418.

Hong Jung-min nabbed one of the final cards up for grabs at the Q-Series, finishing in a six-way tie for 45th with an eight-under-par, 422.

A total of 50 golfers finished either above or tied for 45th, the cut-off to earn LPGA Tour status for next year’s season. Golfers who finished in the top 20 join the Tour in Category 14 and the rest of the pack in Category 15 on the tournament priority list.

Australia’s Robyn Choi came in first place with a 29-under-par, 401, to end the tournament two strokes clear at the top. Choi, 25, made her LPGA debut in 2019 but has not played on the Tour since 2020. Both of Choi’s parents are Korean, according to the LPGA.

Australia's Robyn Choi plays her shot from the fourth tee during the sixth round of LPGA Q-Series on Wednesday in Mobile, Alabama. [AFP/YONHAP]

Choi’s mother was with her on the course as her caddie.

“I had my mom on my bag during the Epson tournaments as well, and I think she helped me bring out the good results with no cuts this year,” Choi said after her win. “[J]ust having her and knowing that she's out there supporting me is always a big help.”

Elsewhere on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail’s Magnolia Grove course, Korea’s Amy Yang was on the bag for American golfer Jennifer Song, who tied for 17th.

Yang, who is a friend of Song’s, was fresh off a big win of her own, claiming the last title of the 2023 LPGA season at the CME Group Tour Championship and the $2,000,000 prize.

“Jennifer, she prepared everything. Her game was so ready to go already at home. I just needed to carry the bag and just talk other stuff and make her feel comfortable,” Yang said.

The Q-Series is the annual qualifying tournament of the LPGA. Golfers who finished in the top 10 on the Epson Tour were awarded Tour cards in October.

Korea’s Ryu Hae-ran was the champion of last year’s Q-Series. Ryu, 22, went on to win her first Tour title at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship in September and was the 2023 LPGA Rookie of the Year.