In 2019, Hee Jeong Lim was a KLPGA Tour rookie at the BMW Ladies Championship, bright-eyed and smiling but radiating with the fierce competitiveness of a seasoned veteran. Entering the tournament, Lim had earned three victories, including her first KLPGA major at the KB Financial Group STAR Championship. Her impressive first-year campaign continued into Busan, where she ultimately finished in a tie for sixth, recording yet another top-10 finish that helped lead to second in the race for KLPGA Rookie of the Year honors behind Ayean Cho.
This year, Lim is back in contention at LPGA International Busan, holding the 36-hole co-lead with Na Rin An. It’s only her fifth LPGA Tour appearance; on the KLPGA, she’s competed in 24 events in 2021 alone, earning 11 top-10 finishes and a victory at the HighOne Resort Ladies Open in August.
“What I like most about the course is that when it's very windy, then they will arrange the setting a little bit. For instance, in terms of fringe hits, they will work on that as well,” said Lim. “So if you use a lot of short irons with your shots, then you will get more opportunities for birdies. So that's what I like most about the setting.”
With the weekend on the horizon, Lim said she’s doing everything she can to “maximize the number of birdies.”
“When I started this tournament, my goal was to keep calm and just keep doing what I've been doing for a very long time,” said Lim. “So I know that I'm leading right now, but I do not want to focus on that fact, but stay calm and just not being obsessed with ranks, but just do my best in every single thing.”
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