Arim Kim "I am the Major Queen~"... Hyoju Kim, Leading for Three Days, Struggles with 7 Over Par, Tied for 4th (Summary)

Season's First Major Chris F&C KLPGA Championship '3-Stroke Victory', Iga-yeong 2nd, Lee Seung-yeon 3rd, Park Min-ji Tied 4th

Kim Arim is receiving a celebratory shower of flower petals immediately after winning the major Chris F&C KLPGA Championship. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Overseas player Kim Arim (27, SBI Savings Bank) has risen to become a domestic "Major Queen."

On the final day of the 2022 season's first major, the Chris F&C KLPGA Championship (total prize money 1.2 billion KRW), held on the 1st at Ildong Lake Golf Club in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province (par 72, 6,689 yards), she added 2-under par to complete a 3-stroke victory (12-under par 276). This marks her third KLPGA Tour win in total, coming 2 years and 10 months after her victories at the 2018 Park Seri Invitational and the 2019 Moon Young Queens Park Championship, with a winner's prize of 216 million KRW.

Starting from a tie for 4th place, 3 strokes behind, Kim Arim recorded 4 birdies and 2 bogeys. In strong winds, she exchanged a birdie at the 2nd hole (par 5) for a bogey at the 3rd hole (par 3), then regained momentum with a birdie at the 4th hole (par 4). Although the birdie at the 8th hole (par 5) was offset by a bogey at the 9th hole, she successfully sank a long 13.62-meter birdie putt at the 16th hole (also par 4), distancing herself from her competitors' pursuit. She wielded powerful long drives, reaching up to 324.80 yards. Winning at a tournament sponsored by her apparel sponsor added further significance.

Kim Arim debuted on the KLPGA Tour in 2016 and is a fierce competitor who achieved "78 attempts, 79th success" at the Park Seri Invitational. Her strengths include refreshing long drives and high-trajectory iron shots, stemming from her tall stature of 175 cm and solid physique. She held the top spot in the KLPGA Tour's long drive category from 2018 to 2020. Most notably, in December 2020, she created a sensation by winning the last major of the LPGA Tour, the U.S. Women's Open, as a non-member.

Last year, she entered the U.S. stage and ranked 52nd in earnings with four top-10 finishes in 23 tournaments. This year, she has participated in eight tournaments but had yet to win. Invited as a special player to this event, she demonstrated stable skills over four days and staged a comeback drama. Kim Arim, who said, "The wind was strong, and the pin positions were difficult, so it was tough," added, "I am living happily in the U.S. and will continue to bring good news."

Lee Gayoung is making an iron shot on the 2nd hole of the final day of the Major Chris F&C KLPGA Championship. Photo by KLPGA

Lee Gayoung (23, NH Investment & Securities) finished 2nd (9-under par 279), and Lee Seungyeon (24, SK Networks) performed well in 3rd place (8-under par 280). Kim Hyoju (27, Lotte), who had led for three consecutive days, collapsed with 1 birdie, 3 bogeys, 1 double bogey, and 1 triple bogey, dropping to a tie for 4th place (6-under par 282). Park Minji (24, NH Investment & Securities) tied for 4th, and Park Hyunkyung (22, Korea Land & Housing Corporation), who was aiming for a three-peat after 40 years, finished tied for 10th (4-under par 284).

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