Im Jin-hee Cheers for 2 Wins... "I Wanted to Win in My Hometown Jeju"

Jeju Samdasoo Masters 1-Stroke Victory
Park Min-ji Becomes Third Multi-Champion This Year After Park Ji-young
"I Want to Achieve 3 Wins and Become the Top Winner"

Im Jin-hee is from Jeju. She eagerly awaited the KLPGA Tour Jeju Samdasoo Masters (total prize money of 1 billion KRW), which concluded on the 6th at Blackstone Golf Club in Jeju City, Jeju Island (par 72, 6,626 yards). She was confident in handling Jeju’s strong winds and the challenging green reading. The house where she lived as a child is only about a 20-minute drive from the tournament venue, Blackstone Golf Club.

Im Jin-hee is receiving a congratulatory water gun salute immediately after winning the Jeju Samdasoo Masters.
[Photo by KLPGA]

Im Jin-hee collected a valuable winner’s trophy with the enthusiastic support of her family. Although she lost 2 strokes in the final 4th round, she secured a 1-stroke victory (5-under-par 283). This was her second win of the season and fourth career victory, three months after the NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship in May. The winner’s prize was 180 million KRW. She became the third multi-champion this season following Park Min-ji and Park Ji-young (both with 2 wins). She ranks 5th in prize money (470.29 million KRW) and 5th in points for the Player of the Year (281 points).

Im Jin-hee’s path to victory was not easy. She lost 3 strokes in the front nine and was once overtaken by Hwang Yu-min by 2 strokes. Im said, “I almost couldn’t win. There were many gusts where the wind blew and stopped, so it was hard to predict how strong the wind would be.” She also reflected, “I was very flustered because my putting, which I consider my strongest skill, was not working well.”

Im Jin-hee said, “I still don’t know if this is a dream or reality,” and smiled brightly, “I really wanted to win in Jeju. It’s an honor to win in my hometown in front of my family and fans.” Remembering her late grandfather, she showed tears and said, “He always supported me, clipping out any mention of ‘Im Jin-hee’ from newspapers.”

Im Jin-hee’s next goal is a third win of the season and ultimately to become the top winner. She expressed her ambition, “There is the prize money title and Player of the Year, but strangely, I really want to be the top winner. There are many tournaments left, so I aim to win one more.” When asked what kind of player she wants to be remembered as, she hoped, “Rather than being a flashy player who excels at something, I want to be remembered as a player who receives rewards proportional to her effort.”

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