Park Sung-hyun advances to the main round of the KLPGA seed-ranking tournament after firing an 8-under 64 on the second day of qualifying. [Photo=KLPGA]
Park Sung-hyun advances to the main round of the KLPGA seed-ranking tournament after firing an 8-under 64 on the second day of qualifying. [Photo=KLPGA]

Park Sung-hyun has comfortably advanced through the qualifying round of the KLPGA 2027 season seed-ranking tournament.

Playing in Group A of the qualifier at Muan Country Club's West-South course (par 72) in Muan, South Jeolla Province, Park fired an 8-under 64 on Wednesday to finish at a total of 7-under 137, good for a share of 14th place and a berth in the main round.

Park had struggled to a 1-over 73 in the first round on Tuesday but bounced back emphatically, carding eight birdies against no bogeys. Park will compete in the four-day main round, also at Muan Country Club, beginning Nov. 10.

Park entered the tournament with a resolve to start fresh, setting aside past glories. Having cleared the first hurdle, Park now faces four grueling days of competition in the main round.

Park turned professional through the KLPGA's second-tier Dream Tour before joining the KLPGA Tour in 2014, going on to win 10 titles before making the move to the LPGA Tour in 2017. In a debut season, Park swept the Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards. Over three seasons, Park claimed seven LPGA titles, including two majors, and reached world No. 1. Injuries later derailed that momentum, leading to a prolonged slump.

In Group A of the qualifier, Ko Eun-hye and Shin Yu-jin shared the top spot at 11-under 133. Park Seo-jin, Kang Jeong-hyeon and Jeong Ji-min 2 all finished at 10-under 134 to tie for third and also advance to the main round.

A total of 349 players entered this year's qualifying round, split into three groups to determine who would advance. Groups A and B, with 115 players each, sent the top 33 through, while Group C, with 119 players, advanced the top 34.

The 100 qualifiers will join exempt players — including those ranked 60th to 80th on the KLPGA Tour's money list, 16th to 20th on the Dream Tour money list, and second through eighth at the International Qualifying Tournament — for the four-day main round. Known as the "race from hell," the main round will award full KLPGA Tour cards for next season to roughly the top 20 finishers.


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