The Korean Ladies Professional Golf (KLPGA) tour is also feeling the spring breeze of major tournaments.
The 'Creas F&C 47th KLPGA Championship', the first major tournament of the KLPGA tour for the 2025 season and the sixth tournament of the season, will kick off over four days from May 1st at Lakewood Country Club (par 72/6,605 yards) in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, with a total prize money of 1.3 billion won and a winner's prize of 234 million won.
This tournament, which began with the launch of the KLPGA in 1978, boasts the highest tradition of the KLPGA.
The inaugural champion, the late Han Myung-hyun, along with stars from different eras such as Kang Chun-ja, the late Koo Ok-hee, Ko Woo-soon, Kim Soon-mi, Kim Mi-hyun, Bae Kyung-eun, Lee Ji-young, Choi Na-yeon, and Shin Ji-ae, have all passed through this stage. Since 2018, Creas F&C has co-organized the event, producing top players of the time like Jang Ha-na (33, 3H), Choi Hye-jin (26, Lotte), Park Hyun-kyung (25, Mediheal), Kim A-rim (30, Mediheal), and Lee Da-yeon (28, Mediheal).
Last year, Lee Jung-min (33, Hanwha Qcells) set a record for the lowest score over 72 holes in KLPGA tour history while achieving 11 wins and celebrated her first major tournament victory.
Lee Jung-min, who is challenging to defend her title, said, "I am honored to participate as the defending champion in the KLPGA Championship, which is the tournament that players most want to win." She added, "This is my first time challenging to defend a major title, so I want to enjoy this atmosphere as much as possible," and continued, "I am trying hard to improve my condition," noting that "the course for the main tournament has steep greens, but I am confident in my iron shots. I will use my iron shots to deliver good play."
Kim Min-seon 7 (22, Daebang Construction), who lifted the KLPGA tour's first victory trophy last week with overwhelming skill, is challenging for her first major tournament victory.
Kim Min-seon 7 said, "I was preparing with the goal of winning the KLPGA Championship early in the season, and a good result came earlier than expected. I am preparing for this tournament with a mindset of starting anew." She added, "Both my shot feel and overall condition are at their best, so I have high expectations for this tournament," stating, "I will show unwavering and solid play based on precise iron shots."
Attention is also focused on Park Hyun-kyung. She secured her first victory at this tournament in the 2020 season and succeeded in a two consecutive victory in the 2021 season, setting a record for title defense after 39 years. If she wins again at this tournament, she will join the late Koo Ok-hee and Kim Soon-mi with a record of three victories.
Park Hyun-kyung expressed her affection, saying, "The KLPGA Championship is a tournament where I achieved my first victory and two consecutive wins, so it is very meaningful to me." She added, "I always feel honored to have my name engraved in a tournament with such a deep history. Every time I participate, I feel good and excited," showing her expectations.
She continued, "Lakewood requires a harmony of precise iron shots, wedge shots, and putting to achieve good results," saying, "It is an authoritative tournament that every player wants to win, so it is easy to become greedy, but I am trying to focus on mind control. I will work hard to prepare and strive for the top."
With no multiple winners yet in the 2025 season, it will be interesting to see if a multiple winner will emerge from the first major tournament. Players aiming for the first win of the 2025 season include Bang Sin-sil (21, KB Financial Group), who is currently ranked first in prize money and Wemade Daesang points; Park Bo-gyeom (27, Samchuly); Lee Ye-won (22, Mediheal); and Kim Min-joo (23, Hanwha Qcells).
It is also a significant concern whether past champions, including Park Hyun-kyung, will again have their names engraved on the championship trophy. Winners from the 2023 season, including Lee Da-yeon, Jang Ha-na, Jang Soo-yeon (31, Dongbu Corporation), and Jeong Hee-won (34, Mijon Tech), have declared their intention for a second victory.
Ko Ji-woo (23, Samchuly), who has consistently placed in the top ten across all five tournaments of the KLPGA tour in the 2025 season, is also a point of interest as she may achieve a winning outcome alongside her consecutive top-ten records. Since the 2000s, only Kim Joo-mi (41), who recorded six consecutive top-ten finishes in the 2004 season, and Lee Bo-mi (37), who achieved eight consecutive top-ten finishes in the 2010 season, have managed to reach such feats.
The performance of rookies is also worth watching. Jeong Ji-hyo (19, Mediheal), who is receiving high expectations this season, is at the top with 237 points. Other competitors for the rookie award include Song Eun-ah (23, Daebo Construction), who was the multiple winner in the 2024 season dream tour, and Jo Hye-ji 2 (19, SBI Savings Bank) and Kim Si-hyun (19, NH Investment & Securities).
Many players supported by Creas F&C have also declared their intentions. In addition to the aforementioned players, Park Hyun-kyung, Lee Ye-won, Bae So-hyun, Park Bo-gyeom, and Jeong Ji-hyo, athletes such as Seong Yu-jin (25, Daebang Construction), Lee Ga-young (26, NH Investment & Securities), Yoo Hyun-jo (20, Samchuly), Lee Dong-eun (21, SBI Savings Bank), Park Do-young (29, Samchuly), Jo Hye-rim (24, PharmaResearch), Oh Kyung-eun (25, Jisole RH), and Jeong Ji-yu (29, Q Capital Partners) are aiming for victory at this sponsor tournament.
Various prizes and events for players and galleries have been abundantly prepared. In the 2nd hole, a clothing gift certificate worth 10 million won is at stake; the 5th hole features a bed set from Ganuda (Karma) worth 15 million won, and the 12th hole offers a premium massage chair from Kojima worth 5 million won. The 17th hole boasts a 'Mercedes-Benz E-Class' worth 70 million won provided by HS Hyosung The Class as a prize.
Since the KLPGA is the only tournament that organizes and hosts the KLPGA tour, a variety of events have been prepared. The 'History Hole' of the KLPGA Championship, which has been running since 2019, continues this tradition this year. The 8th hole, named the 'Creation Hole', signifies 'the moment KLPGA began and created something from nothing', while the 9th hole, known as the 'Growth Hole', symbolizes 'the rapid growth of KLPGA and the birth of many stars'. The 15th hole represents the 'Ascension Hole', reflecting KLPGA's establishment as the global number one in women's golf, offering rich visuals for players and golf fans.
At the 15th hole green, the 'KLPGA Suite Lounge' will be set up. The 'KLPGA Suite Lounge' will provide high-end catering services and relaxation spaces. Notably, this year, it will be expanded to two floors, and access to the lounge will be restricted to past champions of the tournament, key VIPs, holders of KLPGA season passes (LIGHT, PRIORITY, PREMIUM), and those who purchase lounge access tickets.
Additionally, a time capsule event featuring memorabilia from past KLPGA Championship winners will take place in the KLPGA Suite Lounge, and there will be a significant moment in which past champions will introduce participating players from the starting tee.
[OSEN]