The 2023 season’s eleventh tournament, ‘Lotte Open’ (total prize money of 800 million won, championship prize of 144 million won) will be held for four days from June 1st (Thursday) to June 4th (Sunday). The show kicks off at Bear’s Best Cheongna (par 72/6,725 yards) located in Incheon.
The tournament,메이저놀이터 which had been held for 10 years as the ‘Lotte Cantata Women’s Open’ until 2020, was reborn in 2021 by changing its name to the ‘Lotte Open’. The tournament, previously sponsored by Lotte Chilsung Beverage, has grown into a tournament sponsored by Lotte, and the venue, which was held at Lotte Skyhill Jeju, was also reborn as a completely new tournament as it was changed to Bear’s Best Cheongna, a prestigious golf course.
In addition, the ‘Lotte Open’ is famous for the splendid aspects of the past champions who were born through dramatic matches every year. First of all, after the first winner of the tournament, Yoo So-yeon (33, Mediheal), Jeong Hye-jin (36), Kim Bo-kyung (37), Baek Gyu-gyu (28), and Lee Jung-min (31, Hanwha Q Cells) lifted the championship trophy, and in the 2016 season, the preliminaries Park Seong-won (30), who competed after passing through, took the surprise victory and created a Cinderella story.
Since then, Kim Ji-hyun 2 (32), Jo Jung-min (29), Kim Bo-ah (28), Kim Hyo-joo (28, Lotte), and Jang Ha-na (31) won the championship in turn, and last year, Sung Yu-jin (23, Hanwha Q Cells) debuted on the tour for 4 years. It marked the beginning of the birth of a new star by decorating his first win in a long time with a wire-to-wire victory.
In the ‘Lotte Open’, which showcases exciting matches like this every year, all the major players are challenging for the third throne this year again, and defending champion Sung Yu-jin, who is defending the title, is considered the strongest champion.
Seong Yu-jin said, “I’m careful because I have a finger injury, but the shot and putt feel are really good. He said, “I will do my best to defend the title by playing the game well without getting sick.” He added his own strategy, saying, “If you attack with an accurate tee shot, you will be able to achieve good results.”
Among other candidates who will face Sung Yu-jin’s challenge to defend the title, among them, Kim Hyo-joo, Lee So-young (26), Choi Hye-jin (24), and Hwang Yu-min (20), who are sponsored by Lotte, are members of the ‘Lotte Golf Team’. The determination of the four players is extraordinary.
In particular, Kim Hyo-joo is a former champion who lifted the championship trophy at the main event in 2020, and is determined to taste the joy of winning the sponsored competition once again. Kim Hyo-joo said, “I am happy and excited to meet the fans on the KLPGA tour, which I have been participating in for the first time in a while, but on the other hand, I feel that I need to do better.” I am trying to find a better feel for putt, but I will aim for the top ten in this tournament and grab the opportunity when it comes.”
Choi Hye-jin, who finished warming up at the ’11th E1 Charity Open’ held last week, also expressed her will to quench her thirst for victory through this tournament. Choi Hye-jin said, “It is true that I am more greedy because I have not yet had the experience of winning a sponsor competition,” and she said, “I am diligently making up for the tee shot and putt that I was disappointed with last week. From the first round, if she improves her shot and putt feel and minimizes mistakes as much as possible, I think there will be good results,” she added.
Also, the players who are recording one win this season are also candidates for the championship. Starting with Lee Da-yeon (26, Mediheal), who became the first major queen in the 2023 season, Lee Ye-won (20, KB Financial Group), Lim Jin-hee (25, Angang Construction), Choi Eun-woo (28, Amano), Park Bo-gyeom (25, Angang Construction), And Lee Jung-min, who is also the former champion of this tournament, cast a vote to become the first winner of the 2023 season, and although he has not yet won, Jung-min Hong (21, CJ), So-young Lee (26, Lotte), Kim Su-ji (27, Dongbu Construction) and others are also determined to win the championship through this tournament.
The battle between the rookies for the rookie award is also interesting. Kim Min-byeol (19, Hite Jinro) leads the way with 801 points, and Hwang Yu-min (20, Lotte), who has 682 points, follows closely behind. Group) won the championship last week and joined the rookie race in earnest, making the competition for the rookie award even more exciting. Since Bang Shin-sil, who does not participate in this tournament, is expected to pursue fiercely, Kim Min-byeol and Hwang Yu-min, who cast their votes, prepared to compete with great determination to accumulate as many points as possible.
Meanwhile, the Lotte Open serves as a gateway to the KLPGA regular tour from 2013 to last year and provides opportunities to more players through the ‘Lotte Open Qualifying Tournament’, which has contributed to the development of players and associations, and not only golf fans but also players It has also received great acclaim.
This year, KLPGT, Lotte, and SBS Golf, the host broadcaster, agreed to hold a ‘Dream Tour Single Tournament’ rather than a ‘Qualifying Tournament’ in order to maximize the tour competitiveness through the revitalization of the Dream Tour and the expansion of a single tournament. ‘KLPGA 2023 SBS Golf Lotte Open Dream Tour’ was held. After two days of intense competition, 16 pros and 3 amateurs were selected to participate in the event, drawing attention.
Among the 16 pros, Jang Jang-soo (25), who won the KLPGA 2023 SBS Golf Lotte Open Dream Tour and earned the right to participate in the tournament, as well as Jang Jang-soo (25), Kim Bo-bae 2 (29), and Kim Na-young (20) , Sae-Romi Kim (25, Nexen Group), and 14 pros were scheduled to participate, and Hyo-Jin Yang (16), Kyo-Rim Seo (16), and Su-Min Oh (15) were selected as three amateurs, predicting participation in this competition.
Jang Eun-soo, winner of the ‘KLPGA 2023 SBS Golf Lotte Open Dream Tour’, said, “I was even more happy to win the Dream Tour and get the right to participate in this tournament. I’m not in good condition, but I’m looking forward to it because the feeling of putting is gradually improving. As much as he got a good opportunity, he will do his best this time too.”
As such, various events are scheduled to be held at this tournament where all the best players are gathered, so golf fans are anticipating it. In particular, ‘LOTTE PLEASURE HOLE’, which debuted last year and received a great response from fans, is coming this year with a more developed look.
KLPGA and Lotte operate ‘Lotte Pleasure Hall’ to break away from the stereotyped golf viewing culture and provide a unique gallery culture to golf fans. The easy 17th hole has been changed and attracts attention. The hall provides cheering rods to raise the heat, and you can watch the game while enjoying beer along with music.
In addition, when a birdie occurs at the Lotte Pleasure Hall, various prizes such as autographed souvenirs of the player, golf equipment and accessories are provided to the on-site galleries. It is expected that the ‘Lotte Open’, which holds various events through the ‘Lotte Pleasure Hall’, will be imprinted in the minds of golf fans as a golf liberation tool like the ‘WM Phoenix Open’ of the PGA Tour.
In addition, there are plenty of events and giveaways for the gallery. Various sponsors such as Lotte E&C, Lotte Well Food, Lotte Data Communications, Lotte GRS, Lotte Chilsung Beverage, and Canon Korea will fill the gallery zone prepared on site to ensure the convenience of galleries. Majesty golf clubs including iron sets, Duxiana bedding and sunglasses are provided.
Meanwhile, Lotte, the organizer, is determined to provide a differentiated experience to golf fans by selling special tickets. The special ticket is a new concept digital goods in which you select a Lotte Golf Team player you support and when the tournament is over, the player’s ‘Lotte Open’ game record is automatically updated on the ticket.
A total of 5 special tickets will be released. It is possible to purchase a basic type with four Lotte golf team players, and tickets are sold as an admission ticket package that allows admission to rounds 3 and 4 on both days. In addition, when a player of the ticket owner wins, the ticket is turned into a championship commemorative ticket, and a round ticket lottery with the player among the ticket holders of the winning player is performed. In addition to the winner’s draw, a lottery will be held to provide special gifts such as Lotte Golf Club’s special golf bag, Majesty golf club, and player’s autographed hat to all special ticket purchasers.
Lotte strives to provide not only events for the gallery, but also unforgettable memories for participating players. Lotte, the only organizer in Korea that has hosted the KLPGA and LPGA tournaments for 10 years, sponsors the Lotte Golf Team, and has a special affection for Korean women’s golf. We are giving you an opportunity to do that. This event also provides the winner with the right to participate in the ‘2024 LPGA Lotte Championship’ as a prize.
The prize given to the first hole-in-one recorder is also eye-catching. First of all, in the 7th hole, a luxurious Duxiana bed worth 35 million won was hung, and in the 12th hole, a Bentaylor high limousine worth about 90 million won provided by CN Motors was hung, drawing the attention of the players. In addition, 3 million won in cash is provided to players who break the course record.
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