The Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) cut-off standard is the top 60 players, including ties. If a player finishes tied for 61st, exactly 60 players advance to the third round — the worst-case scenario producing the minimum number of players passing the cut.
That dreaded scenario unfolded at the E1 Charity Open after the second round at Ferrum Club (par 72) in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, on Wednesday. With six players tied for 61st, only 60 players through tied 51st made the cut. Conversely, the number of players eliminated at the cut was the highest of this year.
Park Hyun-kyung, who dropped two strokes, slipped to tied 18th at 2-under 142, while Kim Min-sol, who picked up three strokes, will enter the final day tied for 34th at even-par 144.
Among the six players tied for 61st (2-over 146) who narrowly missed the cut, two names stand out. The first is Yoo Hyun-jo, who topped both the scoring average and the player-of-the-year points standings last year. After a respectable 1-under 71 in the first round, she dropped three strokes Wednesday to miss the cut. The elimination of Yoo, who won the DB Group Women's Championship and ranks fifth on the prize money list, qualifies as an upset.
The more intriguing name, however, is Jang Ha-na, who entered this tournament as a sponsor's invitee. Jang failed to make a single cut in 26 events last year, fell into a severe slump, and lost her tour card. After shooting 7-over 79 on the opening day to fall to tied 130th, her surge to tied 61st on Wednesday is itself a story. Jang carded six birdies and one bogey for a 5-under 67. No player shot a better score on the day.
Only Jaravee Boonchant of Thailand, who took the solo lead at 8-under 136, and Kim Na-hyun, who climbed to tied 12th at 3-under 141, matched Jang's 5-under 67. Although she missed the cut, Jang's round was a genuine sign of revival. Most encouraging was the recovery of her driving distance. Jang surpassed 250 yards on two tee shots. Considering her average drive last year was 208.07 yards, it amounts to remarkable progress. Her six birdies included three consecutive and two consecutive birdies, signaling that her ability to string together scores has also returned.
Bang Sin-sil, who won the Doosan Match Play last week, shot 75 in the first round and 73 in the second to finish tied for 74th at 4-over 148, missing the cut.
With only 60 players advancing to the final round, the championship race has become unpredictably tight. Lee Da-yeon, Lee Ga-yeong, and Han Ji-won are tied for second at 6-under 138, two strokes behind leader Boonchant. The group tied for fifth at 5-under 139 includes Park Min-ji, who is chasing the all-time wins record (20 victories), along with Lee Yul-lin, Jung So-yi, and Hong Jin-young. Kim Soo-ji, who shot 4-under 68 to climb to tied ninth at 4-under 140, also remains within striking distance.
