'Shot Eagle' Kim Hyoju 3rd Place for 2 Consecutive Weeks... Green Light Ahead of Season's Final Major

Scotland Open Final Day: Tied 3rd After Shooting 6 Under
Japanese Rookie Furue Shoots 10 Under for First Victory

Kim Hyo-joo (27) finished in third place for the second consecutive week at the LPGA Tour European event. [Source=Asia Economy]

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Kim Hyo-joo (27) raised expectations for the season's final major, the AIG Women's Open, which opens in three days, by finishing third for two consecutive weeks at the LPGA Tour's European event.

On the final day of the Trust Golf Women's Scottish Open (total prize money $2 million (about 2.609 billion KRW)) held on June 1 (Korean time) at Dundonald Links (par 72) in Ayrshire, Scotland, UK, Kim Hyo-joo recorded a 6-under-par 66. This tournament was co-hosted by the LPGA and the Ladies European Tour (LET). Accordingly, Kim finished the tournament tied for third place with a final score of 17-under-par 271. Previously, on May 25, she had also finished tied for third at the Evian Championship held in France.

Starting the final round tied for ninth place, four strokes behind the leader, Kim gained momentum by making an eagle on the 2nd hole (par 4). She reduced her score by one more stroke on the 5th hole (par 5), closing the gap to two strokes behind the leader, C?line Boutier (France). Although she briefly faltered with a bogey on the 7th hole (par 4), she recorded consecutive birdies on the 9th and 10th holes to join the lead battle. Kim continued her momentum with back-to-back birdies on the 12th (par 4) and 13th holes (par 4). However, her momentum waned afterward. Missing a 2-meter birdie putt on the 14th hole (par 5) and failing to reduce her score on the last five holes, she could not continue her pursuit.

The tournament victory went to Japan's Ayaka Furue, who staged a dramatic comeback on the final day. Starting the final round tied for ninth place, four strokes behind, Furue shot an incredible 10-under-par 62 on the day, finishing with a total of 21-under-par 267 to claim the title. Having won six times on the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Tour over the past two years, Furue, who joined the LPGA Tour this year, secured her first LPGA victory in her 16th tournament. She is the second rookie winner this year, following Atthaya Thitikul (Thailand), who won the JTBC Classic in March.

Furue displayed inspired shots and hot putting, recording 10 birdies without a single bogey. She missed the green only once and had just 26 putts. Furue's 62 surpassed the course record of 64 set by Choi Hye-jin (23) in the first round of this tournament by two strokes, setting a new record. C?line Boutier, who started the final day as the leader, reduced her score by four strokes through the 10th hole but faltered from the 11th hole onward under Furue's relentless charge, relinquishing the lead. She managed to secure second place by making a birdie on the final 18th hole. Lydia Ko (New Zealand), who shared the lead with Boutier at the start of the fourth round, could only reduce her score by one stroke and dropped to a tie for fifth place (16-under-par 272).

Jeon Ji-in (28) and Choi Hye-jin, who both shot 3-under-par 69, finished tied for ninth place (13-under-par 275). Ji Eun-hee (36), who challenged for a comeback victory, lost three strokes and fell to a tie for 18th place (10-under-par 278). World No. 1 Ko Jin-young (27) struggled with a 4-over-par 76 and finished tied for 71st place (3-over-par 291), marking her lowest ranking this season.

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