(LEAD) U.S., local tour stars to converge for LPGA event in S. Korea

U.S. and domestic women's golf stars will gather for an LPGA Tour event in South Korea this week, with a local favorite aiming to defend her title. The annual Asian swing by the LPGA Tour will take place in Haenam, approximately 330 kilometers south of Seoul, at the BMW Ladies Championship at Pine Beach Golf Links. The tournament, spanning from Thursday to Sunday, boasts a total purse of $2.35 million and marks the second consecutive edition held in Haenam.

Kim Sei-young, hailing from the neighboring town of Yeongam, claimed last year's tournament in front of a crowd of friends and family, ending a five-year LPGA title hiatus. Currently ranked No. 3 in the world, Kim boasts an impressive 13 career LPGA wins, including seven top-10 finishes in her 17 starts this season - a streak that is expected to flourish with a second consecutive BMW title on home soil during this week's competition.

No player has ever claimed back-to-back BMW tournaments since the event's inception in 2019. Kim is the third-highest ranked South Korean player in the current field, trailing closely behind world No. 3 Ryu Hae-ran, who tops the rankings of South Korean golfers and will also participate in the tournament.