Minsol Kim Claims Four-Stroke Victory...Shows Off 'Super Rookie Power'

Adds 1-Under in Final Round at iM Financial Open
Earns Third Career Win After Two Victories Last Year
Kim Siyoun, Jeon Yesung, and Ahn Jihyun Share Second Place

Min Sol Kim showcased the strength of a “super rookie.”

On April 12 at Golfzon County Sunsan in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province (par 72, 6,778 yards), Min Sol Kim shot a 1-under-par 71 with 4 birdies, 1 bogey, and 1 double bogey in the final 4th round of the KLPGA Tour iM Financial Open, which had a total prize pool of 1 billion won. With a final total of 11-under-par 277, Kim won by a comfortable 4-shot margin over the group tied for second place.

It was a wire-to-wire victory, as she held the top of the leaderboard for all four days. This marks her third career win, following the BC Card·Hankyung Ladies Cup in August last year and the Dongbu Construction·Korea Land & Housing Championship in October. The winner’s prize is 180 million won. Born in 2006, Min Sol Kim claimed two titles last year, but due to not meeting the required number of tournament appearances, she is competing on tour this year as a rookie.

Min Sol Kim is teeing off at the 4th hole of the 4th round of the iM Financial Open. Photo by KLPGA

Kim started the day with a two-shot lead and extended her advantage by reducing her score by two strokes through the 7th hole (par 4), leaving Masom Ma, who had lost four strokes by the 5th hole (par 4) and was second after the third round, well behind. In the front nine, she widened the gap with the runner-ups to as many as six shots, cruising ahead.

However, Kim wavered with a double bogey on the 11th hole (par 4). She reached the green in three shots and needed three putts to finish the hole, resulting in a loss of two strokes. After that, Siyun Kim closed the gap to two strokes, but Kim immediately responded with a birdie on the 12th hole (par 4) to maintain a three-shot lead. She then finished the remaining holes with pars, securing her victory without major risk.

Min Sol Kim, a former national team long-hitter, started last season on the Dream (second division) Tour and entered last year’s BC Card·Hankyung Ladies Cup as a sponsor’s invite, going on to win the tournament. Prior to this event, she was ranked third in the Rookie of the Year points standings, but with this win, she has jumped straight to first place.

Siyun Kim, Yesung Jeon, and Jihyun An finished the tournament tied for second (7-under-par 281). Last week’s The Siena Open winner, Jiwon Ko, finished tied for sixth (4-under-par 284) along with Shinsil Bang, Yewon Lee, Euna Song, and Min Sun Kim. Minju Kim, who won this event last year, finished tied for 19th (1-under-par 287).

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