By Kim Jae-won
Staff Reporter
Korean golfers from the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) as well as local players are preparing to tee off from 1,100 meters above sea level, as the High 1 Resort Cup, Korea's biggest women's golf tournament, will kick off Friday in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province.
Golfers will be playing for a share of the 800-million-won ($640,000) purse. The winner's check in the second annual tournament will be 200 million won ($160,000).
Defending champion Seo Hee-kyung and Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) money leader Ryu So-yeon will play in the event after the KLPGA's seven-week break.
Last year's High 1 was Seo's first career win since her KLPGA debut in 2005.
``The High 1 Resort Cup is very special for me. I got confidence through the tournament,'' the 23-year-old said. Seo won the tournament with an 8-under 208 last year. Seo tied for 48th with a 13-over 297 at the U.S. Women's Open last month. At the Evian Masters, Seo placed 30th with 3-under 285.
``I practiced my short game for the tournament.''
Money leader Ryu, who has earned over 267 million won ($213,000) in the first half, is seeking to keep her status. The two-year pro has grabbed three wins ― the Champions Invitational, Ladies Championship, and Match Play Championship this season.
``I practiced my approach shots a lot. I also did some weight training for the tough schedule in the second half,'' Ryu said.
The 19-year-old trained in Australia during the break.
U.S. Open winner Ji Eun-hee hopes to recover from a very forgettable Women's British Open with a good performance back on home soil. The 23-year-old missed the cut at the Open, held in Lancashire, England two weeks ago.
Ji said there were some problems with her caddy, Zac Austin. Ji fired the Hawaiian after the event, but decided to give him another chance. Ji declined to elaborate on the reason for the firing, but Ji's mother Byung Gwang-il said it was because he did not calculate distance well.
``The caddy came back. He apologized. We will see whether we will keep the relationship with him through this event,'' Ji's father and manager Ji Young-gi told The Korea Times, Wednesday.
An Australian coach also came to Korea last week to help Ji Eun-hee during the event.
``I want to impress home fans with good play,'' Ji Eun-hee said.
Choi Na-yeon also has her sights set on her first win this year. Choi has never won on the LPGA since she debuted last year. Choi finished third twice, in the SBS Open and Corona Championship. The 21-year-old finished eighth at the British Open with a 3-over 291.
LPGA Corning Classic winner Lee Eun-jung also will take part in the event hoping to take her first trophy in the KLPGA.
The tournament will also feature a trio of Rookie-of-the-Year candidates ― Yang Soo-jin, Ahn Shin-ae, and Kang Da-na.
``I am sure the star golfers will give the fans plenty to cheer about,'' KLPGA Marketing Team Assistant Manager Shin Jae-eun said in a statement.