‘Seed Match Regular’ Yoo Hyo-ju: “103 Attempts, 104th Try”… “Seed Worries Gone”

Yoo Yooju Wins WEMIX Championship by 1 Stroke with 5-Under Par on Final Day
Hong Jungmin and Park Doyoung Tie for 2nd, Kim Suji and Ji Hansol Tie for 4th

Yoo Yoo-joo is teeing off at the 3rd hole on the final day of the WEMIX Championship. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] This is Yoo Hyo-ju's (25) first career victory.

On the 23rd, Yoo Hyo-ju shot 5 under par in the final third round of the KLPGA Tour WEMIX Championship (total prize money 1 billion KRW) held at Alpensia Golf Club in Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Province (par 72, 6,492 yards), securing a one-stroke victory (10 under par, 206 strokes). She lifted the winner's trophy for the first time in 104 tournaments since joining the regular tour in 2017. The winner's prize money is 180 million KRW.

Starting from a two-stroke tie for third place, Yoo Hyo-ju made six birdies (one bogey). After a birdie on the 2nd hole (par 3) was offset by a bogey on the 3rd hole (par 4), she made three birdies on the 5th, 8th, and 11th holes to continue competing for the championship. Yoo secured thrilling come-from-behind victory by making birdies on the 16th and final 18th holes (both par 5).

From 2018 through last year, Yoo Hyo-ju participated in the qualifying tournaments every year without fail. Except for her rookie year in 2017, she had never ranked within the top 60 in the money rankings to retain her tour card. Before this tournament, she was ranked 87th in the money list (80.44 million KRW), making her status on the first division tour uncertain, but her victory erased all worries about her tour card.

"I can't believe my name is at the top of the leaderboard," said Yoo Hyo-ju. "I tried to play without worrying about the money rankings," she added, "Playing comfortably and enjoying the game led to this victory." She continued, "The eagle shot on the first day and the eagle putt on the second day were a big help," and smiled brightly, saying, "Now that I have my first win, I want to become a player who can win two or three more."

‘Doosan Match Play Champion’ Hong Jeong-min (20) performed well by shooting six under par but was satisfied with a tie for second place (9 under par, 207 strokes). Park Do-young (26) also joined this group, achieving her personal best. Five players including two-time champion Kim Su-ji (26), Lee Ye-won (19), Ji Han-sol (26), Na Hee-won (28), and Kim Woo-jung (24) tied for fourth place (8 under par, 208 strokes). Han Jin-seon (25), who led for two consecutive days, struggled with one over par and dropped to a tie for 11th place (6 under par, 210 strokes).

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