KB women's golf tournament to tee off Sept. 7

gettyimagesbank

By Yoon Ja-young

KB Financial Group will host the KB Financial Star Championship, a major KLPGA Tour tournament, at Blackstone Golf Club in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, from Sept. 7 to 10.

Offering 1.2 billion won ($906,000) in total prize money, the tournament is expected to see a heated competition with participants including “major queen” Chun In-gee, defending champion Park Min-ji and Lee Ye-won, the top-ranked player in KLPGA prize money, as well as rookie sensations of the season like Bang Shin-sil and Hwang You-min.

A promotional image for the 2023 KB Financial Star Championship / Courtesy of KB Financial Group

"I have always dreamed of winning the KB Financial Star Championship and it is also a course I really like personally. I want to win this tournament with a good record,” Lee Ye-won said.

This year's tournament will adjust the course length to add to the excitement of the game and bring out the best in the players.

The 11th hole (par 4) will be extended to encourage aggressive shots from the players, while the 18th hole (par 5), where the winner is often decided, will be shortened to challenge players to make bold approaches. This is expected to provide thrilling entertainment for spectators.

KB Financial's meticulous support for caddies, which has garnered a strong response from both players and caddies, will continue this year. Into its third year, the financial group's caddie sponsorship program will offer 500,000 won to caddies who wear hats with a KB Financial logo during the tournament. In addition, players who miss the cut will also receive 300,000 won each.

The group, which has been committed to environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) for a better world, has also prepared events for the local community, accumulating funds for scholarships and donations for the underprivileged each time a golf ball lands in a designated zone.

"We have prepared various facilities and events so that golf fans can enjoy the thrilling games of the best players in the country. We will continue sparing no efforts to make the KB Financial Star Championship a major tournament that contributes to the local community, as well as promoting the development of the golf industry,” a KB spokesperson said.