'Major Queen' Park Hyun-kyung "Cheers for 2 Wins"... Lim Hee-jung's 'Tears in Overtime'

IS Dongseo Busan Open Final Day Sudden Death Second Hole 'Winning Birdie', Double Celebration with Top Prize Money

Park Hyun-kyung is cheering immediately after winning the IS Dongseo Busan Open in a playoff on the final day. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] 'Major Queen' Park Hyun-kyung (20, Korea Land & Trust) celebrates her second victory.

On the 13th, at the Stonegate Golf Club in Gijang-gun, Busan (par 72, 6,491 yards), during the final day of the newly established KLPGA Tour event IS Dongseo Busan Open (total prize money 1 billion KRW), she secured a winning birdie on the second sudden death hole against Lim Hee-jung (20, Hanwha Q CELLS) at the 18th hole (par 4). This marks her second win of the season, two months after her first career victory at the major KLPGA Championship in May. She received a winner's prize of 200 million KRW, rising to first place in the prize money rankings with 450.76 million KRW.

The third round scheduled for that morning was canceled due to heavy rain, so the rankings were finalized based on the 36-hole results of the second round. However, Park Hyun-kyung and Lim Hee-jung were tied for first place (13 under par, 131 strokes) until the previous day, leading to a playoff to determine the winner. In the three-hole playoff played on holes 16, 17, and 18, both players made pars, and in the first sudden death hole at the 18th, they matched each other with birdies in a tense battle.

The fortunes of the two players diverged on the second sudden death hole. Park Hyun-kyung’s second shot from 135 meters landed very close to the hole, while Lim Hee-jung’s second shot from 115 meters was 12 meters away from the hole, effectively deciding the outcome. Park, who said, "It was my first playoff in the regular tour," expressed joy, saying, "The second win came sooner than I expected. I want to stay focused and show good play in the remaining tournaments."

Lim Hee-jung settled for second place, missing out on her first win of the season and her fourth career victory. Park Min-ji (22, NH Investment & Securities) finished third (11 under par, 133 strokes), Kang Ji-sun (24, Samchully) fourth (9 under par, 135 strokes), and Kim Ji-hyun (29, Hanwha Q CELLS) fifth (8 under par, 136 strokes). 'Top prize money earner' Lee So-young (23, Lotte) and Kim Se-young (27, Mirae Asset) tied for sixth place (7 under par, 137 strokes). Kim Hyo-joo (25) and Choi Hye-jin (21, both Lotte) tied for 33rd place (3 under par, 141 strokes).

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