Kim A-lim jets into Korea to defend CreaS F&C Championship title

The first KLPGA major of the 2023 season, the 45th CreaS F&C KLPGA Championship, tees off Thursday at the Lakewood Country Club in Yangju, Gyeonggi.

Kim A-lim watches her putt on the first hole during the final round of the Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas on Sunday. [AP]

The first KLPGA major of the 2023 season, the 45th CreaS F&C KLPGA Championship, tees off Thursday at the Lakewood Country Club in Yangju, Gyeonggi.

First established in 1978, the CreaS Championship has seen numerous prominent golfers, including 2017 champion Jang Su-yeon, 2018 champion Jang Ha-na and 2022 champion Kim A-lim, lift the trophy.

All three past winners are competing this year among 132 golfers in the field.

Kim joins the field in good form. The 27-year-old tied for fourth at the Chevron Championship — the first major of the LPGA year — in Texas on Sunday, managing the best finish among Korean golfers in the competition.

“The time difference could be a variable, but as a defending champion, I will do my best to defend the title,” Kim said on Tuesday.

Lee Jeong-eun6 and Lee Joo-mi are also notable names in the competition.

Lee Jeong-eun6 and Kim both compete on the LPGA Tour, while Lee Joo-mi recently won her first ever KLPGA title at the Mediheal-Hankook Ilbo Championship on April 16.

Lee Jeong-eun6 has not come close to winning an LPGA title this season. Her best finish in the past three events was tied for 43rd at the HSBC Women’s World Championship last month.

She has won six KLPGA events total — the last title at the KB Financial Group Star Championship in 2018.

“I am thirsty for a title because I have not won one for a long time,” Lee Jeong-eun6 said. “I will win in front of Korean fans and send good energy.”

Lee Joo-mi, on the other hand, is looking for No. 2.

“I am happy to take part in this competition and I want to get a good score by riding the momentum from my first ever title,” Lee Joo-mi said. “I will challenge for a major title after my first ever title.”

The three KLPGA events so far this year have all gone to first-time winners.

Lee Ye-won won the Lotte Rent-a-Car Women’s Open on April 9, while Lee Joo-mi won the Mediheal Championship on April 16 and Choi Eun-woo also took her first title on Sunday.

Both Lee Ye-won and Choi are also taking part in the CreaS F&C Championship.

Park Carrie paired with Yoon Su-a and Moon Jeong-min will be first to tee off on the first hole at 6:50 a.m., the same time Ma Da-som, Cho Jeong-min and Kwak Bo-mi start on the 10th hole.

Lee Jeong-eun6 will also start on the 10th hole with Kim Su-ji and Hong Jung-min at 8:25 a.m., followed by Lee Ye-won and Lee Joo-mi on the same hole at 8:35 a.m.

Defending champion Kim A-lim will then start on the first hole at 12:25 p.m.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]