Park Hyun-kyung's Comeback Victory "Title Defense After 39 Years"... Kim Ji-young 2's 'Third Runner-up'

2021 Season First Major KLPGA Championship 1-Stroke Victory, Kim Woo-jung Tied 2nd, Kim Hyo-moon and Lim Hee-jung Tied 4th

Park Hyun-kyung is taking her second shot on the 1st hole on the final day of the major KLPGA Championship. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Park Hyun-kyung (21, Korea Land Trust) has achieved her second consecutive major victory.

On the final day of the first major of the 2021 Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, the Chris F&C KLPGA Championship (total prize money 1 billion KRW), held on the Kyle Phillips Course (par 72, 6,532 yards) at South Links Golf Club in Yeongam, Jeonnam on the 2nd, she added 2-under par to secure a one-stroke victory (10-under par 278). She won her first career title at this tournament, established in 1978, last year, and this year she dramatically succeeded in defending her title, setting a new milestone.

This back-to-back win is the first in 39 years since the late Ku Ok-hee won three consecutive titles from 1980 to 1982. It is her third career win, coming 10 months after the IS Dongseo Busan Open in July last year, with a winner's prize of 180 million KRW. She leads the money list (206.69 million KRW) and the points for the Player of the Year (104 points). Park Hyun-kyung started tied for third place, two strokes behind, and recorded four birdies and two bogeys. After a birdie on the 1st hole was canceled out by a bogey on the 4th hole (both par 4), she struggled to reduce her score further.

She took control of the leaderboard with a birdie on the 9th hole and consecutive birdies on the 12th and 13th holes. Although she made a bogey on the 17th hole while leading by two strokes, she secured the victory by parring the final 18th hole (both par 4). She was the only player in the tournament, played under strong winds, to avoid an over-par score throughout the four days. Although she did not win during her rookie season in 2018, she became a new force on the KLPGA Tour by being the first to reach two major titles.

Kim Ji-young 2 (25, SK Networks) led for three days but faltered with a 1-over par round, finishing tied for second place (9-under par 279). This is her third runner-up finish following 2016 and 2018. Kim Woo-jung (23, BC Card) is also in this group. Kim Hyo-moon (23, Ilhwa McCol), who was co-leader the previous day, lost two strokes and dropped to a tie for fourth place (8-under par 280). Lim Hee-jung (21, Korea Land Trust) is also tied for fourth, and ‘Lotte Rent-a-Car Champ’ Lee So-mi (22, SBI Savings Bank) is tied for sixth place (7-under par 281).

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