Title races intensifying in Singapore

By Kang Seung-woo

The Korea LPGA Tour’s money and best golfer races are going down to the wire.

In the second round of the ADT Caps Championship in Singapore, Friday, Yang Je-yoon and Kim Char-young tied for second at a 7-under 137, one shot behind leader Kim Sei-young, who saved two shots on the day. Yang ended the round with a 3-under, while Kim shot a 4-under.

Yang is a runner-up in the Player of the Year race two points off the leader Kim Ha-neul, while Kim Char-young is sitting third in the money list with 385 million won. Kim Ha-neul is also the front-runner in prize money at 455 million won.

As winning a tournament is worth 40 points, with 22 points for second, 19 for third, down to 11 point for 10th place, Yang, 20, is closer to the Player of the Year award because Kim Ha-neul managed to save only one stroke with an even-par 144. Heo Yoon-kyung, at 255 points, carded a 1-under to total a 4-under 140.

Given that the winner’s share is 80 million won, both Heo, who has bagged 404 million won, and Kim have a chance to clinch the money award, should they top the season finale and Kim Ha-neul fail to make the top 10.

The tight races for individual titles is overshadowing Kim Sei-young’s bid to claim her first tour victory. The 19-year-old has recorded four top-10 finishes since she joined the KLPGA Tour last year.