Gayoung Lee "Shed the 'Runner-up Specialist' Label"... 'First Victory at the 98th Tournament'

Gayoung Lee Adds 15 Points on Final Day of Dongbu Construction·Korea Land Trust Championship
Jinhee Lim Runner-Up by 5 Points, Yewon Lee 3rd, Hyunkyung Park and Heejung Lim Tied 4th

Lee Gayoung is making an iron shot on the 1st hole during the final day of the Dongbu Construction·Korea Land Trust Championship. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Taewon] Lee Gayoung (23), who had been particularly unlucky in winning on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, finally enjoyed the glory of her first career victory.

On the 16th, Lee Gayoung swept up 8 birdies (1 bogey) to add 15 points in the final round of the KLPGA Tour Dongbu Construction·Korea Land Trust Championship (total prize money 1 billion KRW), held in a modified Stableford format at Iksan Country Club (par 72) in Iksan City, Jeonbuk. She completed her victory with a total of 49 points over 4 rounds, winning by a 5-point margin. This tournament was Lee Gayoung's 98th event on the KLPGA Tour.

The modified Stableford format determines rankings by adding points assigned to each score rather than counting strokes. An albatross is awarded 8 points, an eagle 5 points, a birdie 2 points, a bogey -1 point, and a double bogey or worse -3 points.

Lee Gayoung, who debuted on the KLPGA Tour in 2019, was a national team member for three years from 2015 and was regarded as a top prospect alongside Choi Hyejin (23). Although she won twice on the KLPGA Dream Tour in 2018, she had been particularly unlucky in securing a win on the KLPGA Tour, with four runner-up finishes being her best results until now.

With this victory, Lee Gayoung received 180 million KRW in prize money and rose to 8th place in the prize money rankings (574.89 million KRW). She has surpassed 500 million KRW in prize money for two consecutive seasons, following last year.

Lee Gayoung started the final round in 2nd place, 1 point behind Lim Jinhee (24). She seemed shaky early in the round. Lim Jinhee, who made birdies on holes 1 and 2, led by 3 points. However, Lee Gayoung recorded three consecutive birdies from holes 2 to 4, taking a 1-point lead.

Lim Jinhee regained a 1-point lead with a birdie on the 5th hole, but Lee Gayoung responded with a birdie on the 7th hole to flip the lead by 1 point, continuing the fierce competition for the championship.

The momentum began to tilt toward Lee Gayoung as Lim Jinhee made a bogey on the 9th hole and Lee Gayoung made consecutive birdies on the 10th and 11th holes. Lim Jinhee tried to chase with a birdie on the 13th hole, but Lee Gayoung succeeded with an 8-meter birdie putt on the 16th hole, crossing the final hurdle toward victory.

Lim Jinhee, who was aiming for her second win of the season following her July victory at the McCol·Monapark Open, had to settle for a runner-up finish (44 points). Rookie of the Year race leader Lee Yewon (19) finished 3rd (41 points), and "Daughters of Iksan" Park Hyunkyung and Lim Heejung (both 22) tied for 4th place (39 points).

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