Hee-Young Park's Consecutive Victory "After 6 Years and 7 Months"... "Did You See the Winning Shot?" (Summary)

ISPS Handa Big Open Final Day: Choi Hye-jin and Yoo So-yeon Defeat in Playoff, Cho A-yeon Struggles with 9-Over Par, Tied 16th

Park Heeyoung is cheering while holding the trophy immediately after winning the ISPS Handa Vic Open. Geelong, Australia = Getty Images / Multibits Photo by Multibits

[Asia Economy Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyun-jun] It is Park Hee-young's (33) victory in a playoff.

On the 9th (Korean time), at the Seventeen's Beach Golf Links Beach Course (par 72, 6,276 yards) in Geelong, Victoria, Australia, the final day of the LPGA Tour ISPS Handa Vic Open (total prize money $1.1 million) ended with Park Hee-young finishing 1-over par, tying with Choi Hye-jin (21, Lotte) and Yoo So-yeon (30, Mediheal) at 8-under par 281. Then, on the fourth hole of the resumed playoff at the 18th hole (par 5), she finally made the 'winning par.' This is her third career win, coming 6 years and 7 months after the Manulife Financial Classic in July 2013, with a winner's prize of $165,000 (19.7 million KRW).

Park Hee-young, a former national team member, caused a sensation by winning the KLPGA Tour Hite Cup as a high school student in 2004. The following year, she turned professional immediately and secured the Rookie of the Year title, led by her victory at the PAV Invitational. After a strong performance including two wins in 2006, she moved to the United States in 2008 and achieved her first win at the CME Group Titleholders in November 2011, later reaching two wins at Manulife.

It is interesting that Park Hee-young secured her 2020 season card by finishing second in the Qualifying Tournament Q-Series last November. This came after a slump with no top-10 finishes in 16 tournaments and dropping to 110th in the money rankings. The Q-Series, introduced in 2018 to replace the traditional 5-round Q-School, is a grueling two-week, 8-round event. The top 45 players receive a tour card (category 14). Xiumu Ni (China) topped the leaderboard.

Starting the day in 4th place, 3 strokes behind, Park Hee-young recorded 4 birdies and 5 bogeys. Missing an eagle putt on the first playoff hole was a regret for her. Yoo So-yeon was eliminated first with a par on the second hole, and on the third hole, Park and Choi Hye-jin were tied with '3-on 1-putt' birdies. However, Choi Hye-jin's tee shot on the fourth hole flew into the forest on the right side of the fairway, distancing her from victory. Her third shot landed in a hazard area, and her fifth shot failed to reach the green.

Jo Ah-yeon (20)'s challenge for a 'non-member win' ended tied for 16th place (3-under par 286). After leading by one stroke through three rounds, she struggled with her iron shots, making only 2 birdies but 7 bogeys and 2 double bogeys, shooting a tough 9-over par 81. Madelene Saxstr?m (Sweden), the Gainbridge LPGA Champion, also dropped sharply to tied 20th place (2-under par 287) due to a 9-over par round.