SEOUL - South Korean golf has achieved a significant milestone with six players earning their LPGA Tour cards for the 2024 season. This accomplishment was secured at the LPGA Q-Series, the annual qualifying tournament for the top women's golf competition, held in Mobile, Alabama.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee So-mi, a five-time winner on the South Korean tour, emerged as a notable performer, finishing tied for second at 26-under 404. This performance at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Magnolia Grove on Wednesday (local time) secured her a rookie status for the LPGA Tour in 2024. The top 45 finishers and ties at the Q-Series earned their LPGA cards, with those in the top 20 and ties gaining entry to most tournaments, while the rest will have conditional status on the LPGA Tour and full status on the second-tier Epson Tour.
Lee, who was in the lead before the final round, ended up three strokes behind winner Robyn Choi of Australia after carding a one-over 73. She was aiming to be the third consecutive South Korean Q-Series winner following An Narin in 2021 and Ryu Hae-run in 2022.
Other South Korean players who secured their LPGA cards include Sung Yu-jin, a three-time Korea LPGA (KLPGA) champion, and Jang Hyo-joon, an LPGA rookie in 2023 who lost her card. Both tied for seventh at 19-under. Im Jin-hee, who topped the KLPGA Tour with four titles in 2023, tied for 17th at 13-under. Im, ranked world No. 40, was the highest-ranked player in the Q-Series.
Lee Jeong-eun, a veteran whose LPGA rookie season was in 2015, will have conditional status next year after tying for 23rd at 12-under. Lastly, Hong Jung-min, who will be an LPGA rookie next year, made the cut by tying for 45th place at eight-under.