Hyejin Choi 8th "Top 10 in LPGA Debut"... Lydia Ko Wins

2022 Season Round 2 Gainbridge LPGA Final Day 2-Under, Danielle Kang 2nd, World No.1 Korda Tied 20th Slips

[Asia Economy Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyun-jun] Choi Hye-jin (23, photo) finishes in the ‘Top 10 in her debut’.

On the 31st (Korean time), at the Boca Rio Golf Club (par 72, 6,710 yards) in Boca Raton, Florida, USA, the final day of the second event of the 2022 LPGA Tour, the Gainbridge LPGA (total prize money $2 million), Choi shot 2-under par to finish tied for 8th place (6-under par 282). Lydia Ko (New Zealand) secured a one-stroke victory (14-under par 274). This marked her 17th career win, her first in nine months since the Lotte Championship last April, with a winner’s prize of $300,000 (36 million KRW).

Choi Hye-jin advanced to the LPGA Tour this year after going through the Qualifying (Q) Series last December. She has already demonstrated exceptional power with a total of 10 wins on the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, including 2 wins as an amateur, and was runner-up at the 2017 major US Women’s Open as an amateur. In this tournament, she competed for the title throughout all four rounds, including a strong start with 5-under par on the first day. She expressed confidence, saying, “I missed a few chances, but I think I can do better next time.”

Lydia Ko recorded 4 birdies and 1 bogey, with notable back-to-back birdies on holes 15 and 16 near the end. The persistent chase by ‘opening champion’ Danielle Kang (USA) ended in second place, one stroke behind (13-under par 275). Yuka Saso (Japan) led the daily best with 5-under par to finish third (12-under par 276), followed by Charlie Hull (England) and C?line Boutier (France) tied for fourth (11-under par 277). From Korea, Yang Hee-young (33) finished tied for 13th (4-under par 284), and Jeon In-ji (28, KB Financial Group) tied for 20th (2-under par 286) alongside world number one Nelly Korda (USA).

World No. 1 Nelly Korda is executing a bunker shot on the 2nd hole of the final day at the Gainbridge LPGA. Boca Raton, USA = Getty Images / MultiBits

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