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South Korean golfer eyes move to LPGA after taking early tournament lead

  • [서울=아시아뉴스통신] 레악카나 기자
  • 송고시간 2021-10-23 03:45
  • 뉴스홈 > 스포츠
An Narin of South Korea watches her tee shot at the 10th hole during the first round of the BMW Ladies Championship at LPGA International Busan in Busan. (Photo from BMW)

[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana]  SEOUL: South Korean golfer An Narin has signed up for the final stage of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament, colloquially known as Q-School, scheduled for next month in Alabama. She has always wanted to take her talent on the American tour. But An just may be able to take a much shorter, direct path to the LPGA Tour. On Thursday, she took the opening-round lead at the BMW Ladies Championship, the only LPGA event in South Korea this season, after shooting an eight-under 64.

If An wins this tournament as a non-LPGA member -- she has been playing on the Korea LPGA (KLPGA) Tour since 2017 -- she will earn full LPGA status for the following season. "I started playing golf because I want to play on the U.S. tour," An, 25, said after taking a one-stroke lead over two players on Thursday. "That's why I entered the Q-School for this winter. I want to do well there. But if I can win this week and go straight to the LPGA Tour, then it's going to be so much better."


South Korea first hosted an LPGA event in 2002. Five South Korean players previously earned LPGA membership by winning previous iterations of the tournament under different title sponsors. The most successful case so far has been Ko Jin-young.