Korean Women’s Golf ‘No Medal’… ‘Number 1’ Korda "I Am the Gold Medalist" (Comprehensive)

Ko Jin-young and Kim Se-young tie for 9th at Tokyo Olympics, Park In-bi ties for 23rd, Lee Na-mi wins silver, Lydia Ko wins bronze

Se-young Kim (left) and Jin-young Ko are finishing the final day of the women's golf event at the Tokyo Olympics. Saitama, Japan - Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] The world’s strongest Korean women’s golf team ended up with no medals.

‘Number 2’ Ko Jin-young (26) scored 3-under par on the final day of the Tokyo Olympics women’s golf event held on the 7th at Kasumigaseki Golf Club in Saitama Prefecture, Japan (par 71, 6,648 yards), but remained tied for 9th place (10-under 274). ‘Number 1’ Nelly Korda (USA) won by one stroke (17-under 267). Mone Inami (Japan) tied for 2nd place (16-under 268) with Lydia Ko (New Zealand), the silver medalist from the Rio Olympics, and after a playoff, took the silver medal.

Starting tied for 10th place, 8 strokes behind, Ko Jin-young made 4 birdies (1 bogey). She reduced 2 strokes in the front nine with birdies on the 5th and 8th holes (both par 5), and added 2 more birdies on the back nine at the 10th hole (par 3) and 14th hole (par 5). The final 18th hole (par 4) was a bogey. Ko said, “Although I feel regretful that the Olympics are over, I also feel relieved,” and added, “I did everything I could without regrets,” acknowledging her defeat by saying, “I think the difference from the medal positions was due to my shortcomings.”

She continued, “If I consistently maintain a top ranking and prepare, I will have a chance at the Paris Olympics in three years,” and vowed, “If I go then, I don’t want to leave regrets like this year.” Kim Sei-young (28, Mediheal) lowered her score by 3 strokes and joined the group tied for 9th place. Kim said, “We talked about how (Ko) Jin-young and I should have pushed forward in rounds 1 and 2,” and added, “The Olympics always leave some regrets,” promising, “I will challenge for a medal again at the Paris Olympics.”

Kim Hyo-joo (26, Lotte) shot 4-under par to rise to tied 15th place (9-under 275). She said, “It’s disappointing not to win a medal, but this was my best round,” and added, “Today I played as I wanted and finished feeling refreshed.” Park In-bee (33, KB Financial Group), the gold medalist from the Rio Olympics, finished tied for 23rd place (5-under 279). She said, “The result is a bit disappointing,” and “I approached this tournament thinking it was my last Olympics.”

Nelly Korda (left) and Lydia Ko are playing together at the 11th hole on the final day of the women's golf event at the Tokyo Olympics. Saitama, Japan. Photo by Yonhap News.

Korda started with a 3-stroke lead and recorded 5 birdies, 1 bogey, and 1 double bogey. She was cruising with a birdie on the 2nd hole (par 4), but suffered a critical double bogey on the 7th hole (par 3), allowing a tie for the lead. However, she escaped her competitors’ chase with 3 consecutive birdies from the 8th to 10th holes. Aditi Ashok (India) finished 4th (15-under 269), Hannah Green (Australia) tied for 5th (13-under 271), and Feng Shanshan (China), the bronze medalist from the Rio Olympics, placed 8th (11-under 273).

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