By Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter
South Korea and Japan have confirmed their rosters for the Kyoraku Korea-Japan Women's National Golf Team Match Play Competition, to be held from Dec. 4 to 5.
The KLPGA and JLPGA announced their lists Monday for the national team match play competition at Ryukyu Golf Club in Nanjo, Okinawa Prefecture. On the line will be the honor of each country as well as 61.5 million yen (789 million won) in prize money.
The South Korean team is composed of five LPGA, four JLPGA and four KLPGA players.
Lee Ji-hee of the JLPGA was named the captain of the team. But the star of the squad will be Shin Ji-yai, who currently leads the LPGA in wins, earnings and points on the player of the year standings. She has already claimed the rookie of the year award.
The Korean team will include a list of LPGA stars: Kim In-kyung, Ji Eun-hee, Choi Na-yeon and Yoo Sun-young ― all of whom were among the LPGA's top 13 players through the Navistar LPGA Classic.
Ji, the U.S. Women's Open champion, and Choi, who won two times on the LPGA this year, were initially not expected to participate in the competition in order to take part in the qualifying school for the JLPGA which conflicts with the match play event. However, the two changed their mind and decided to represent their country instead.
The top three Korean golfers from the JLPGA ― Lee, Jeon Mi-jeong and Song Bo-bae ― automatically qualified for the team, as did the top four available from the KLPGA ― money leader Seo Hee-kyung, second-place Ryu So-yeon, Lee Jeoung-eun and Lee Bo-mee. Lim Eun-a was chosen to fill the fourth JLPGA slot.
Ahn Sun-ju was ranked second in qualifying points for the team among KLPGA players but has chosen to instead compete for a tour card at the JLPGA qualifying school. Lee Bo-mee will take her place.
The Japanese team is lead by LPGA star Ai Miyazato, currently second on the LPGA money list behind Shin. The Japanese golf icon was born in Okinawa, where the event will take place, and will have plenty of support from fans.
The Japanese will send an older team than their counterparts, with the likes of veterans Miho Koka and Yuri Fudoh. The team is an average of four years older than the Korean team ― 27.23 years old versus 23.08. It remains to be seen if experience will play a significant role in the event.
Shinobu Moromizato, the JLPGA money leader, has won six times this year and will be joined on the team by Sakura Yokomine.
Yokomine has dominated the event since she first started playing in 2004. She has won seven times in match play competition against Kim Mi-hyun, Ahn Shi-hyun, Jeon, Ji and Ahn Sun-ju, as well as others.
Among the Korean golfers, Lee Ji-hee has a record of 5-1-3 in the competition, while Jeon Mi-jeong is 3-1-3. The young guns from the LPGA have not had as much success at the event. Shin, Choi and Ji have only one win among them.
Korea has won four of the eight events, while Japan has won three. One ended in a draw.
yc@koreatimes.co.kr