U.S., local tour stars to converge for LPGA event in S. Korea

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SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- Stars from the top U.S. and domestic women's golf tours will converge for an LPGA Tour event in South Korea this week, with a hometown favorite looking to defend her title.

The LPGA Tour will bring its annual Asian swing to Haenam, some 330 kilometers south of Seoul in Jeonnam-Gwangju, for the BMW Ladies Championship at Pine Beach Golf Links. The 72-hole stroke-play tournament goes from Thursday to Sunday, with a total purse of US$2.35 million.

Kim Sei-young of South Korea kisses the trophy after winning the BMW Ladies Championship at Pine Beach Golf Links in Haenam, Jeonnam-Gwangju, on Oct. 19, 2025, in this file photo provided by the tournament organizing committee. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

This will be the second straight edition of the tournament played in Haenam. Kim Sei-young, who is from the nearby town of Yeongam, won last year's tournament in front of dozens of friends and relatives to end a five-year LPGA title drought.

At No. 9 with 13 career LPGA wins, Kim has had a strong 2026 season with seven top-10 finishes in 17 starts -- a run that will surely improve with a second straight BMW title on home soil this week. No player has won consecutive BMW tournaments since its launch in 2019.

Kim is the third-highest ranked South Korean player in the field.

World No. 3 Ryu Hae-ran leads all South Korean players in the rankings and will also be the highest-ranked player at this tournament. The 25-year-old has had a breakout campaign this year by winning two major titles and notching eight other top-10 finishes.

Kim Hyo-joo, world No. 5, is also a two-time tour winner this year who has four other top-10 finishes. She will chase her career win No. 10, which would make her the sixth South Korean player to reach double figures in LPGA titles.

This week will also see 15 players from the Korea LPGA (KLPGA) Tour, including its two best players this year -- Kim Min-sol and Seo Kyo-rim.

Ryu Hae-ran of South Korea tees off on the fifth hole during the final round of the FM Championship at TPC Boston in Norton, Massachusetts, on Aug. 30, 2026, in this Getty Images file photo. (Yonhap)

Kim, a 20-year-old rookie, is leading the tour in money and the Rookie of the Year points. Kim is also second in the Player of the Year points, behind Seo, who is in second place on the money list.

Seo has won four KLPGA tournaments this year to Kim's three. In the world rankings, Kim is the top KLPGA player at No. 13, with Seo checking in at No. 32.

A nonmember who wins an LPGA tournament will earn eligibility for LPGA membership. That player can either accept her LPGA card immediately or defer it to the start of the following year.

Kim Min-sol of South Korea hits a shot during the final round of the McColㆍMona Yongpyong Open on the Korea LPGA (KLPGA) Tour at Birch Hill Country Club in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, on June 28, 2026, in this file photo provided by the KLPGA Tour. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

jeeho@yna.co.kr (END)

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首尔，10 月 20 日（韩联社）——本周，来自美国顶级女子高尔夫巡回赛和韩国国内女子高尔夫巡回赛的明星球员将齐聚韩国，参加 LPGA 巡回赛的一项赛事，一位本土宠儿将力争卫冕。

LPGA巡回赛一年一度的亚洲站比赛将在全南光州海南市举行，该市位于首尔以南约330公里处，比赛地点为松树滩高尔夫球场（Pine Beach Golf Links）。这场72洞比杆赛将于周四至周日举行，总奖金为235万美元。

2025年10月19日，韩国选手金世英在全罗南道光州海南市松树滩高尔夫球场赢得宝马女子锦标赛冠军后亲吻奖杯。（此照片由赛事组委会提供。）（照片禁止出售）（韩联社）

这将是该赛事连续第二年在海南举行。来自附近灵岩镇的金世英去年在数十位亲朋好友的见证下赢得了该赛事冠军，结束了她长达五年的LPGA冠军荒。

目前以13个LPGA冠军头衔位列第九的金妍儿，在2026赛季表现出色，17场比赛7次跻身前十——如果本周能在本土卫冕宝马锦标赛冠军，她的成绩必将更上一层楼。自2019年宝马锦标赛创办以来，还没有球员能够连续赢得该项赛事的冠军。

金是参赛选手中排名第三高的韩国选手。

世界排名第三的柳海兰是所有韩国选手中排名最高的，也将是本次赛事中排名最高的选手。这位25岁的选手今年表现出色，赢得了两项大满贯冠军，并取得了八次前十名的成绩。

世界排名第五的金孝周今年已两次赢得巡回赛冠军，并四次跻身前十。她将力争职业生涯第十个LPGA冠军，这将使她成为第六位LPGA冠军数达到两位数的韩国球员。

本周还将有 15 名来自韩国女子职业高尔夫巡回赛 (KLPGA) 的球员参赛，其中包括今年该巡回赛的两名最佳球员——金珉率和徐教琳。

2026年8月30日，韩国选手柳海兰在马萨诸塞州诺顿的TPC波士顿球场举行的FM锦标赛决赛轮比赛中，于第五洞开球。（图片来自Getty Images）

年仅20岁的新秀金在奖金榜和年度最佳新秀积分榜上均领先巡回赛。金在年度最佳球员积分榜上也位列第二，仅次于奖金榜排名第二的徐。

今年徐熙媛赢得了四场KLPGA巡回赛冠军，金智贤则赢得了三场。在世界排名中，金智贤是KLPGA排名最高的选手，位列第13位，而徐熙媛则排名第32位。

非会员球员赢得LPGA巡回赛冠军将获得LPGA会员资格。该球员可以选择立即接受LPGA会员资格，也可以选择推迟到下一年年初。

2026年6月28日，在韩国女子职业高尔夫巡回赛（KLPGA）于江原道平昌市桦树山乡村俱乐部举行的麦科尔莫娜龙平公开赛决赛轮中，韩国选手金珉率击球。（此照片由KLPGA巡回赛提供，非卖品。）（韩联社）

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