Choi Hye-jin of Daesang "Happy End"... Kim Hyo-joo's 'Triple Crown Finale'

Final Match SK TelecomㆍADT Caps Championship Comeback Victory, Yu Hae-ran 2nd Place, Kim Hyo-joo and Jang Ha-na Tied 3rd Place

Choi Hye-jin is cheering immediately after winning the final day of the SK Telecom·ADT Caps Championship. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] "It’s a happy ending."

This is the story of Choi Hye-jin (21, Lotte). She has worn the Taegeuk mark since the 3rd year of middle school. She was so outstanding that she dominated the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour even during her amateur days. In 2017, she secured the runner-up position at the major US Women’s Open on the LPGA Tour, marking her as a next-generation world star. She won Rookie of the Year in 2018, and last year she swept individual titles including multiple wins, prize money, the Player of the Year award, and scoring average with five victories including one major.

She was expected to dominate the KLPGA Tour again this year. However, amid the chaotic situation caused by the spread of COVID-19, she suffered from a winless streak. At the S-Oil Championship in June, she surged to the lead with an 8-under-par on the first day, but the tournament was canceled due to bad weather, leaving her only with the '1st place' but no official win. Up until last week, she participated in 15 tournaments, making it to the final rounds in all and entering the top 10 an impressive 13 times. She had already secured the Player of the Year title with 499 points.

Choi Hye-jin smiled in the end. On the final day of the 2020 season finale SK Telecom ADT Caps Championship (total prize money 1 billion won) held on the Old Course (par 72, 6,747 yards) at La Vie Belle Golf Club in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province on the 15th, she shot 3-under-par and achieved a one-stroke victory (12-under-par 204). Starting tied for second place, one stroke behind, her 'dunk shot eagle' on the 5th hole (par 5) stood out. She tasted the joy of collecting a winner’s trophy for the first time in a year since the SK Networks Seoul Economic Ladies Classic in October last year.

This was her 10th career win, including two as an amateur. Adding the 200 million won winner’s prize, she finished 6th in prize money with 538.27 million won. She has won the Player of the Year award three consecutive times since 2018. Choi Hye-jin, who said "It was very hard without a win," shed tears saying, "I desperately wanted to win today" and "I feel so happy." She added with a smile, "When I made the shot eagle, I won, so now that the season is over, I want to relax at home and spend time with my dog."

Rookie of the Year Yoo Hae-ran (19, SK Networks) finished 2nd (11-under-par 205). Kim Hyo-joo (25, Lotte) performed well, tying for 3rd place (10-under-par 206). She also topped the prize money list (797.14 million won), won the most victories (2 wins), and led the scoring average (69.57). "I’m happy to be number one in scoring average," she cheered, "and I was lucky enough to also become the prize money leader." Jang Ha-na (28, BC Card) tied for 3rd place. Defending champion Ahn Song-yi (30, KB Financial Group) struggled with a 7-over-par and dropped to a tie for 21st place (3-under-par 213).

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