Minji Lee 'Breaks Slump'... "Cheers for 9 Career Wins"

Kroger Queen City Championship: Hull Defeats in Sudden Death Extension
First Win in 1 Year 3 Months... 400 Million Won Prize
Inruening 3rd, Im Miyang 5th, Choi Hyejin 11th

This is an overtime victory signaling the end of Australian-Korean immigrant Minji Lee's slump.

[Image source=Getty Images Yonhap News]

On the 10th (local time), at the Kenwood Country Club Kendale Course (par 72, 6,515 yards) in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, Minji Lee finished the 4th round of the LPGA Tour Kroger Queen City Championship (total prize money $2 million) with 1-under par, tying with Charley Hull (England) at 16-under par 272. However, she secured the winning birdie on the second hole of the resumed playoff at the 18th hole (par 4).

[Image source=Getty Images Yonhap News]

Minji Lee added a victory after about 1 year and 3 months since the major US Women's Open last June. This is her 9th LPGA Tour win, with a winner's prize of $300,000 (approximately 400 million KRW). Before this tournament, she had participated in 14 events with only two top-10 finishes. Her previous best result was at the Cognizant Founders Cup last May, where she entered the final round with a 3-stroke lead but was overtaken by Ko Jin-young and finished as runner-up.

Starting as the 2-stroke leader, Minji Lee recorded three birdies and one double bogey. She smoothly reduced her score by 3 strokes over 11 holes, including her first birdie at the 2nd hole (par 5) and consecutive birdies at the 7th and 8th holes. However, she allowed Hull to catch up after a double bogey at the 12th hole (par 5). In the first playoff hole, Lee made par to tie, then secured a crucial birdie on the same hole during the second playoff hole to claim victory.

Hull fought hard, reducing her score by 3 strokes but had to settle for second place. Inrunnin (China), who would become world number one if she finished fourth or higher, shot 5-under par to finish third (14-under par 274). Among Korean players, Im Hyang-gi shot 5-under par to finish tied for 5th (11-under par 277), the highest rank among them. Choi Hye-jin tied for 11th (10-under par 278), while Yoo Hae-ran and Shin Ji-eun tied for 23rd (6-under par 282).

[Image source=Getty Images Yonhap News]

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