2017 LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship Oct 12-15

[Argonne69]

• Race to the CME Globe: 500 Points
  
• Format: 72 holes
  
• Purse: $2,000,000
  
• Location: Sky 72 Golf Club Ocean Course, Incheon, South Korea
  
• Par: 72
  
• Yardage: 6,316
  
• History: In 2016, Carlota Ciganda came from five-strokes back of 54-hole leader Alison Lee and defeated her in a playoff with a birdie on the first extra hole to capture her first victory on the LPGA Tour.
  

Coverage:

• Oct 12: Golf Channel 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm (EDT)
  
• Oct 13: Golf Channel 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm (EDT)
  
• Oct 14: Golf Channel 11:30 am - 2:30 pm (EDT)
  
• Oct 15: Golf Channel 11:30 am - 2:30 pm (EDT)
  

[Argonne69]

One of the stronger fields of the year. The world's top 10 will be here, as well as 18 of the top 20. A number of top KLPGA players will be in the field, including Hye Jin Choi (2nd at the U.S. Open), Jeong Eun Lee 6 (5T at the U.S. Open), Jin Young Ko (15T at the U.S. Open), and Seon Woo Bae (19T at the U.S Open).

 

It's the start of the 5 event Asian swing, and a number of yearlong awards are still up for grabs.

 

Tough to pick a winner here with such a strong field. Lexi won the event in 2015, and has had a great season up to this point, so I'd say she has a slight edge. In Gee and Lydia will also be itching to pick up their first win of the season after a few close finishes.

[18majors]

Go In Gee!

[Mellow]

This will be exciting. Such a field, and this must be such a huge deal to the Korean players especially.

 

Like you say Lexi is always a strong choice nowadays.

 

I too am cheering for In Gee! Maybe she's at full health I hope? So want her to get a win this season. Minjee too.

 

But I really want So Yeon or MJ to get the win here ... just to show Hana! Rawr!

 

I'm a clueless outsider about sponsors and the country, but I do not like this dropping people. Don't know if that's the norm. And I'm not the target audience. But I'd be a lot more impressed to see them grow a team and stand by players. And how could they break up their beautiful team Hana from last year, it was sooo perfect, I'll never get over it...

[Argonne69]

The KLPGA players really seem to get pumped for this event. Min Sun Kim is tied for the lead after the first round. Ji Hyun Kim, Min-Ji Park, Jin Young Ko, and Seon Woo Bae are also on the front page of the leaderboard.

[Mellow]

And I don't know who most of them are! I seriously want a KLPGA cheat-sheet.

 

I'm not joking when I say: I wouldn't even know the ones I do know without the fashion thread! It's my only hope :swoon:

 

Goooo Minjeeeee!

[ClairefromClare]

So the stateside boys may finally get to see Shin Ae Ahn live?

[Argonne69]

It was nice to see Michelle out there.

 

Sung Hyun's fans, The Attack Girls, were quite vocal. I thought the Flying Dumbos were loud, but the AG's are something.

 

Karen made a comment about Lexi's putts per GIR being an indication of her better putting. I have to disagree. I don't think one can draw conclusions from that stat, or the total putts stat. The only true measure of putting is strokes gained, which the LPGA doesn't calculate. Fewer putts per GIR may be the result of better iron/wedge play, i.e. proximity to to the hole, allowing for more one putts, or easier two putts.

[Jasonic]

Not a fan of SH Park's super short black flooded pants with white shoes. Her feet looked like a size men's 13 lol. Putted great tho

[Argonne69]

Angel and In Gee with nice 65's in the 2nd round, giving Angel a 2 shot lead.

 

The KLPGA players are hanging in there, with 4 in the top 10.

[Raving Shanker]

I am surprised there are not more comments on this. This really is a super tournament, and course! SHP looks driven. Plenty of others playing great golf.

 

And I want to play the Sky72 (all 72 holes!). I usually want to play any course I see on TV, but this one is particularly alluring.

 

Across the bay there is North Korea looking like Mordor.

[pmcuk]

I love the Asian Swing for several reasons

- the coverage comes up on YouTube in the morning for me, so I can watch it. Korea is 8 hrs ahead of the uK

- the courses are great

- the crowds are so hugely enthusiastic, just on another level

- it's really nice to watch the Koreans in their home country

[legitimategolf]

- it's really nice to watch the Koreans in their home country

 

It's fascinating to observe the rise of golfmania in Korea. The western media tends to suppress the general subject but maybe that's because it would put the decay of our own golf culture into sharp relief. We have Paige Spiranac, they have In Gee Chun. Nuff said.

[Argonne69]

It's shaping up to be an exciting finish. Sung Hyun clearly has eyes on the World #1 ranking. In Gee, Minjee, and Lizette are looking to grab their first wins of the season. Jin Young would love to win in front of the hometown fans. Marina and Angel are looking for their first wins on tour. Carlota wants a repeat. Brooke would love back to back wins.

 

How's that for a motivated leaderboard?

[Mellow]

Yeah, this is a great dramatic finish at the top! And close too, no prohibitive leader. I'm actually kind of tense about it!

 

I'm still holding out for In Gee and Minjee!

 

I'm impressed by Ciganda; that's better than most defenses go.

 

So jealous of Korea's enthusiasm for women's golf. They really get the attention they deserve there.

[legitimategolf]

So jealous of Korea's enthusiasm for women's golf. They really get the attention they deserve there.

I wish there was an entire Korean swing of the tour. I would stay up late every night to watch.

[Rustbelt]

I still wonder why there is only one stop in Korea. LPGA could have another event in spring or fall instead of some Chinese events that have been getting cancelled. After all, Korea is the biggest source of revenue for LPGA.

[pmcuk]

Best tournament of the season. Absolutely would like to see more tournaments in S.Korea. This is exceptional.

[Jasonic]

Best tournament of the season. Absolutely would like to see more tournaments in S.Korea. This is exceptional.

 

Agreed 100%. great golf

[0351Duffer]

It's been three great rounds so far... I'm personally pulling for In Gee Chun, but it's tight and should be an exciting finish!

[Rustbelt]

Congrats to JYK. Now comes the decision.

[Argonne69]

Ack. I was planning to watch the delayed coverage later this morning, but I accidentally saw the results. Oh well. Congrats to Jin Young. It will be interesting to see if she takes LPGA membership next year. The scores looked pretty even. I wonder if conditions changed, or if they set the pins in more difficult spots.

[Highland]

Jin Young was so consistent. Great golf. We'll see if she's the next big LPGA "rookie."

[south_side_lefty]

I really enjoyed watching Jin Young so far and will enjoy watching the final round.

 

I also enjoy seeing Jin Young in the fashion thread, IF ya know what I mean...

[8602081]

Great tournament. Jin Young was shooting darts with her irons.. Very impressive..

[Mellow]

Not the Ko we know, but the Ko we need... I know there's an internet joke in there somewhere

 

Wow, congratulations to Jin Young! I'd like to find out more about her, and if she will change leagues.

 

I remember back when In Gee came over to the LPGA. I was super excited, felt like we were getting KLPGA royalty... but I also wondered how that felt for the KLPGA fans, if that was a painful loss. Don't know if this would be similar. And for the player, it's such a different boat. Tougher competition, but like we were talking about, what seems like less recognition and fan support. It's a big decision. But a good one to have!

 

For the tournament, it's a pretty great top 10 too, lots to be happy about. The next Korean player was Ji Hyun Kim at 13, then several at T14. So JYK outperformed by a good bit to come out on top.

 

I'll join the chorus and hope they add another Korean tourney. It's just got to be the most fertile ground and possibility.

[Argonne69]

Yes, the Korean fans would miss Jin Young, but there is a steady pipeline of players ready to fill the void. Hye Jin Choi and Jeong Eun Lee come to mind, in addition to a slew of other familiar faces, e.g. Ji Hyun Oh, Hae Rim Kim, Min Sun Kim, and Ji Hyun Kim. The level of talent is pretty remarkable.

 

On the flipside, the fans also get to welcome back a steady stream of older players that return after a stint on the "big stage", e.g. Jiyai Shin, Ha Na Jang.

[mosesgolf]

So much talent on the KLPGA. It's no wonder those who do well there (Korea) can come to US Tour and take off running.

[Rustbelt]

I wonder what do LPGA players think about that fan support in Korea. Obviously, Korean LPGA members know but it has to be a shock to see the number of people at the course.

 

I wonder if Jeong Eun Lee (6) will try for LPGA in the near future. She has dominated KLPGA this year.

[Argonne69]

Karen was right, Sung Hyun really looked out of sorts during the last round. She hit 11 fairways, but seemed to miss a few key ones down the stretch when she needed a big drive. Her putting stroke was tentative, leading to 3 more putts than her Saturday round. That said, it's still amazing that she could finish 2nd playing her B game.

 

Charley had a nice week, almost flying under the radar. Karen mentioned that Brooke is at her best on the weekends, which of course means that she goes out and shoots her worst round of the tournament on Sunday. Lol. Announcers curse.

 

It will be curious to see if Angel can focus her aggressive play, or if she'll continue to be streaky.

 

What the heck has happened to Danielle? She played great at the Solheim, but otherwise it's been a train wreck since her win at the KPMG. Three missed cuts, a WD, and an 18th, 24th, and 66th. I really thought her win would propel her into contention each week, but it's looking pretty grim at the moment.

 

I thought the course held up well, especially given that the wind never really materialized. It's not a long course, but Jack's greens are always challenging. Get on the wrong side of a ridge, and it's no automatic 2-putt.