Hwang Min-jeong sizzles in pro debut, leads by three

LAUREL, Batangas  , Philippines  —  Hwang Min-jeong marked her pro debut in style, shooting a four-under 68 and storming to a three-stroke lead as Thai Chonlada Chayanun hobbled at the finish in the opener of the ICTSI Splendido Ladies Classic at the wind-swept Splendido Taal Golf Club here yesterday.

Hwang’s strong start didn’t come as a big surprise since the 17-year-old rising Korean star has been a regular fixture on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour as an amateur, even besting the pros at Mt. Malarayat in 2015.

She also dominated the Philippine Amateur Open last year, posting a record 16-shot romp over compatriot Kim Hee Ji in a victory that further underscored her readiness for the big league.

And she didn’t disappoint in her first official pro tournament – at least, after 18 holes.

Chayanun actually posted a more impressive start among the 46-player starting field in the P750,000 tournament serving as the fourth leg of the 2018-19 season of the country’s premier circuit put up by ICTSI. Determined to make up for her fourth place effort at Beverly Place last week, the Bangkok native ran off three straight birdies from No. 2 then hit back-to-back birdies from No. 10 to stay on top.

But she stumbled with a bogey on No. 12 and failed to survive the gusts that picked up at the finish, dropping two strokes on the next and bogeying No. 15 to slide to joint second at 71 with compatriots Saraporn Chamchoi and Punpaka Phuntumabamrung.

“I really enjoyed my game,” said Hwang. “I played smart and safe because of the heavy wind but I’m glad because I set up a number of short birdie putts.”

The Incheon native, who trained back home during the break in preparation for her pro debut, also wavered with a bogey on No. 16, blemishing an otherwise solid round that featured back-to-back birdies from Nos. 1 and 10 and another birdie feat on the 15th from close range.

Armed with a three-shot lead, Hwang looks forward to sustaining her charge in the next two rounds though she remains wary of her Thai pursuers as the local aces failed to impress with wind-blown over-par cards.

“I’ll just enjoy my game to ease up the pressure,” she said.

The burden actually lies on her rivals, who must gain some headway in today’s second round, including Chamchoi, who also reeled back with back-to-back bogeys from No. 14 and Phuntumabamrung, who hit a late birdie at 17th for a 36-35 card.