2015 KLPGA waiting for new bevy of queens

Golfers who will play on the 2015 KLPGA Tour wave during a media day event at the Lotte Hotel in central Seoul, Wednesday. From left are Kim Ja-young, Yoon Chae-young, Kim Min-sun, Ko Jin-young, Choi Hye-jung, Lee Jung-min, Lee Seung-hyun, Park Gyeol and Ji Han-sol. / Yonhap

By Nam Hyun-woo

Who will be the next queen of the 2015 season Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour when the biggest stars are gone to the LPGA?

The KLPGA Tour will have its domestic season opener, the Lotte Mart Ladies Open, on April 9 and golfers will compete in 29 events during the season.

The 2015 KLPGA Tour began in December with the Hyundai China Ladies Open. From the Lotte Mart Ladies Open in Jeju, events will continue for 16 straight weeks until July. After a short break in August, 12 competitions will follow.

The KLPGA said two more events were added to this year's tour schedule, making the season the biggest in the organization's 37-year history. The total purse has also increased 1.9 billion won from last year, to 18.4 billion won.

During a media day event at Lotte Hotel in central Seoul, Wednesday, golfers were reluctant to predict who will be the queen of this season, but did not hide their goals and hopes.

“I have trained a lot during the winter break,” said Lee Jung-min, who bagged two trophies last season. “Rather than setting this year's goal as to winning how many events, I will rather focus on improving my stroke average. Last year, I managed to make the top 10 and I will make it into the top five.”

Along with Lee, Heo Yoon-kyung and Lee Min-young each won two tournaments last year, while Chun In-gee and 2014 Rookie of the Year and now LPGA player Baek Kyu-jung claimed three trophies, respectively. However, rising teenager Kim Hyo-joo's dominance overshadowed their victories.

Kim bagged five trophies, including three majors. That performance sent her to the LPGA, and she won the 2014 Evian Championship and the JTBC Founders Cup.

“Last year, I didn't know she was that good until I saw Hyo-joo playing,” said Kim Ja-young, who clinched three wins in 2012. “As I knew Hyo-joo's performance only after I played with her, it is difficult to expect who will top this season until it fully starts. What I can tell you is I will do my best to become the queen.”

A glimpse of who will become the new queen could be offered at the Lotte Mart Ladies Open, from which several talented golfers have moved on to the LPGA after victories.

In the 2013 event, Kim Sei-young, the winner of the LPGA's Pure Silk-Bahamas Classic, clinched a thrilling come-from-behind victory. Kim Hyo-joo also won the 2012 event as an amateur.

As star golfers moved to the LPGA, questions have been raised whether the domestic tour can enjoy the popularity it did last year.

“As the association exported a number of players, there have been woes over the KLPGA,” said KLPGA executive vice chairwoman Kang Choon-ja. “However, I believe expectations over who will become the new star are higher than worries.”

Also of notice is who will be the 2015 Rookie of the Year. Among contenders, golf experts pick the 2014 Incheon Asian Games gold medalist in individual women's golf, Park Gyeol, and Ji Han-sol, who claimed eight wins in amateur-level events.

“I have never fiercely competed against Park before,” Ji said. “It is good to have her as a competitor. Since she won the Asiad gold, I will get the rookie of the year title.”