The question everyone wanted answered: Which unlucky competitor would draw powerhouse rookie Kim Min-sol into their bracket?
Kim Min-sol has dominated the season as a first-year player, already securing one tournament victory and sitting in second place for both prize money and championship points. Her long-distance drives make her a formidable opponent that competitors would rather avoid entirely.
The bracket selection worked through an intriguing format: sixteen A-group members—determined by previous season earnings—each selected three additional players to complete their groups. Bang Shin-sil ended up picking Kim Min-sol’s name from the pool.
Bang Shin-sil’s bracket now includes herself, Kim Min-sol, Moon Jung-min, and Kim Ji-su—instantly earning the label of a knockout group given the strength of all four competitors.
The driving distance statistics tell the story: Kim Min-sol ranks second overall (258.59 yards), Moon Jung-min fifth (253.14 yards), and Bang Shin-sil sixth (251.55 yards). Adding intrigue, all four players from this bracket finished near the top during the most recent major championship—Bang Shin-sil, Moon Jung-min, and Kim Ji-su tied for fourth place, while Kim Min-sol claimed twelfth.
Unusually Competitive Field Throughout
The upcoming five-day tournament at Radena Golf Club in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province features an exceptional number of highly competitive brackets this season. Because only the top finisher from each group advances to the knockout round of sixteen, many top-ranked players face early elimination.
The A-group roster includes defending champion Lee Ye-won, along with Hong Jung-min, Roh Seung-hee, Yoo Hyun-jo, Bang Shin-sil, Seong Yu-jin, Lee Ga-young, Park Hye-jun, Ko Ji-won, Kim Min-sun, Ko Ji-woo, Jung Yoon-ji, Park Hyun-kyung, Park Ju-young, Im Hee-jung, and Kim Min-ju. Kim Min-ju secured the final A-group position based on twentieth place in earnings from the previous season.
However, eleven players currently ranked within the top twenty for prize money this season did not make the A-group cut. Their brackets automatically become danger zones.
These eleven include: second-ranked Kim Min-sol, fifth-ranked Jeon Ye-sung, sixth-ranked Im Jin-young, eighth-ranked Kim Si-hyun, eleventh-ranked Seo Gyo-rim, twelfth-ranked Kim Jae-hee, thirteenth-ranked Ahn Ji-hyun, sixteenth-ranked Han Jin-sun, seventeenth-ranked Yang Hyo-jin, eighteenth-ranked Yoo Seo-yeon, and twentieth-ranked Patchara Chutakul from Thailand.
The bracket containing Jung Yoon-ji, Kim Jae-hee, Seo Gyo-rim, and Hyun Se-rin presents another unpredictable showdown. Similarly, the group featuring Im Hee-jung, Yang Hyo-jin, Bae So-hyun, and Im Jin-young offers no clear favorite for advancement.
Fortune Favors Some
By contrast, Lee Ye-won drew a relatively manageable bracket alongside Lee Se-hee, Kim Woo-jung, and Lee Chae-eun. Yoo Hyun-jo also benefited from favorable selection, pairing with Jo Hye-rim, Park Gyeol, and Li Xiuying from China. Park Hyun-kyung’s group—which includes Jung So-i, Shin Da-in, and Seo Eo-jin—likewise appears less threatening on paper.
Yet match play tournaments thrive on unexpected outcomes. The format’s inherent unpredictability creates its unique appeal, and upsets remain entirely possible across every bracket.