Kim Hyoju Wins in Playoff "After 3 Years and 6 Months~"... Kim Seyoung Takes 2nd Place

Lotte Cantata Women's Open Final Day: Winning Birdie on First Playoff Hole, Oh Ji-hyun 3rd, World No.1 Ko Jin-young Tied 45th

Kim Hyo-joo is being showered with water by her teammates in celebration immediately after winning the Lotte Cantata Women's Open. Photo by KLPGA

[Jeju=Asia Economy Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyunjun] World No. 13 Kim Hyo-joo (25, Lotte) secured a victory in a playoff.

On the 7th, at the final day of the KLPGA Tour Lotte Cantata Women's Open (total prize money 600 million KRW) held at Lotte Skyhill Golf Club Sky & Ocean Course (par 72, 6,373 yards) in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, Kim shot 5-under par to tie with Kim Se-young (27, Mirae Asset) at 18-under par 270. She then sealed the win with a birdie on the first hole of the playoff at the 18th hole (par 5). This marks her 11th career win, her first in 3 years and 6 months since the 2016 Hyundai China Women's Open, with a winner's prize of 160 million KRW.

Starting from a tie for 4th place, 3 strokes behind, Kim Hyo-joo recorded 7 birdies and 2 bogeys. Although she had a shaky start with a 3-putt bogey on the 1st hole (par 4), she gained momentum by making 3 consecutive birdies from holes 5 to 7. She made a birdie on the 11th hole (par 4), followed by a second bogey on the 12th hole (par 4), but recovered with back-to-back birdies on the 13th and 14th holes, and added another birdie on the 18th hole. In the playoff, she sank a 3-meter birdie putt first. Meanwhile, Kim Se-young missed a relatively short downhill putt.

Kim Hyo-joo has been known as a "monster" since her amateur days for setting various remarkable records. In 2012, she won professional tournaments consecutively in Korea (Lotte Mart Women's Open), Japan (Suntory), and Taiwan (Swinging Skirts). In Japan, she notably became the youngest winner ever at 16 years and 332 days old and set the record for the lowest 18-hole score (61). She turned professional in October and won the Hyundai China Women's Open in December, achieving the shortest time to a win (2 months and 11 days).

Kim Hyo-joo is posing for a commemorative photo with the trophy placed in front of her immediately after winning the Lotte Cantata Women's Open. Photo by KLPGA

In 2014, Kim Hyo-joo led with 5 wins and swept the KLPGA Tour's "Grand Slam" by claiming the money title, MVP, and lowest scoring average awards. The highlight was winning the Evian Championship in September, securing a direct ticket to the LPGA Tour. Her major victory as a non-member drew significant spotlight. She joined the LPGA Tour in 2015 and has won three times in total, including the Founders Cup in March 2015 and the Pure Silk Bahamas Classic in January 2016.

However, she experienced an unexpected slump afterward. Her iron shots faltered, and most notably, her main weapon, putting, was unreliable. In 2018, she underwent grueling winter training to regroup. Last year, she was frustrated by finishing as runner-up three times?in June at the NW Arkansas Championship, July at the Evian Championship, and November at the Toto Japan Classic. Kim Hyo-joo herself said, "It's been so long since my last win that I feel dazed," and cheered, "I have definitely regained my confidence."

Oh Ji-hyun (24, KB Financial Group) settled for 3rd place (17-under par 271) after her attempt to reach the green in two on the 18th hole was caught in a bunker, resulting in a par. Han Jin-sun (23) lost one stroke to finish 4th (15-under par 273), and Hong Ran (34, Samchully), who shot 10-under par the previous day, dropped to a tie for 5th (14-under par 274) after a 2-over par round. The two-time defending champion of the E1 Charity Open, Lee So-young (23, Lotte), ended her bid for back-to-back wins tied for 8th (14-under par 274). World No. 1 Ko Jin-young (25) finished tied for 45th (4-under par 284).

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