Park Hyun-kyung, First in the World to Win After "COVID-19" Pandemic: "I Am the Major Queen"

KLPGA Championship Final Day 5-Under Par '1-Stroke Comeback Victory', Lim Hee-jeong and Bae Seon-woo Tied for 2nd Place

Park Hyun-kyung is holding the trophy and posing for a commemorative photo immediately after winning the KLPGA Championship. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "First win is a major."

Park Hyun-kyung (20, Korea Land Trust) achieved a come-from-behind victory. On the 17th, at Lakewood Golf Club in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province (par 72, 6,540 yards), she shot 5-under par on the final day of the first major of the 2020 KLPGA Tour season, the KLPGA Championship (total prize money 3 billion KRW), securing a one-stroke victory (17-under par 271). The winner's prize was 220 million KRW, and it carried the special significance of being the first victory worldwide since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Starting tied for second place, three strokes behind, Park recorded six birdies and one bogey. She opened the scoring early with a birdie on the 4th hole (par 4), then gained momentum with consecutive birdies on the 6th and 7th holes. Although a bogey on the 9th hole (par 4) was disappointing, she seized control with three consecutive birdies from the 11th to the 13th holes. The 13th hole (par 4) was the turning point. Alongside Im Hee-jung (20, Hanwha Q CELLS) making a bogey, Park quickly established a two-stroke lead. Im Hee-jung birdied the 15th hole (par 5) to recover one stroke but ultimately finished tied for second place (16-under par 272).

Park Hyun-kyung is a next-generation prospect who started playing golf at the age of nine. She followed an "elite course," serving on the national training team in 2013 and as a national representative from 2014 to 2016. She earned full KLPGA membership by winning the team event at the 2016 World Amateur Golf Championship and quickly secured her tour card by ranking 7th on the 2018 Dream (2nd tier) Tour money list. Last year, she entered the top 10 nine times in 27 tournaments, finishing 23rd on the money list with 310 million KRW.

Park was actually frustrated by the lack of a win. She was often compared to Im Hee-jung and Cho A-yeon (20, Volvik), who were her teammates on the national team. Im Hee-jung won three times last year, and Cho A-yeon won twice, earning Rookie of the Year honors. Right after her victory, Park tearfully said, "I have been under a lot of emotional stress." She added, "The hard work during winter training really paid off," and revealed her competitive instinct by saying, "The award I want most this season is for the lowest scoring average."

Park Hyun-kyung’s victory in a special match featuring domestic and international stars is welcome news. Indeed, Bae Sun-woo (26, Samchully), who flew in from Japan, joined the tie for second place, and Kim Hyo-joo (25, Lotte), a member of the U.S. LPGA Tour, posted an 8-under par daily best to finish tied for fourth place (14-under par 274). "Domestic No. 1" Choi Hye-jin (21, Lotte) finished tied for ninth (10-under par 278), and last year’s U.S. Women’s Open champion Lee Jeong-eun 6 (24, Daebang Construction) tied for 15th (9-under par 279).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.