Kim Minseon5 "Victory After 1170 Days"... Lee Soyoung 'Top Prize Money Earner'

Mekkol·Yongpyong Resort Open Final Day 2-Under Par '1-Stroke Victory', So-Young Lee Tied for 2nd Place

[Asia Economy Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyun-jun] "I waited 1,170 days."

Kim Minseon5 (25, Korea Land Trust) is in 'revival mode.' On the 5th, at Birch Hill Golf Club in Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Province (par 72, 6,434 yards), she added 2 under par in the final 3rd round of the KLPGA Tour McCol Yongpyong Resort Open (total prize money 600 million won) to achieve a one-stroke victory (12 under par 204 strokes). This is her 5th KLPGA Tour win in total, coming 3 years and 3 months after the Nexen Saint Nine Masters in April 2017, with a winner's prize of 120 million won.

Kim Minseon5 was one of the 'three special rookies' along with Ko Jin-young (25) and Baek Kyu-jung (25, CJ O Shopping) who drew attention in 2014. After her first win at the ADT Caps Championship in November, she earned one win each year with the Edaily Ladies in May 2015 and the Park Seri Invitational in September 2016, living up to her reputation. It is interesting that she fell into a slump afterward without any particular reason. She explained, "I felt uneasy with short putting," and "as my shots improved, I naturally got out of it."

In this tournament, she shot 6 under par on the second day and combined 5 birdies and 3 bogeys on the final day. Especially notable was her par save on the 17th hole (par 3) near the end. With Lee So-young (23, Lotte) and Sung Yoo-jin (20, Hanwha Q CELLS) already finished and tied for 2nd place (11 under par 205 strokes), she sank a 1.2-yard par putt to hold onto a one-stroke lead. Kim Minseon also said, "It was a distance where I made many mistakes, so the pressure was great," and cheered, "I want to win twice this season."

Lee So-young was left with the regret of finishing runner-up for the second consecutive year. She took consolation in securing the No. 1 spot in the points race (223 points) and overtaking Kim Hyo-joo (25) to claim the top spot in the prize money ranking (355 million won). Defending champion Choi Hye-jin (21, both Lotte) tied for 7th place (8 under par 208 strokes), and Kim Ji-young2 (24, SK Networks), who won the BC Card Hankyung Ladies Cup that ended on the 28th of last month, remained at even par, tied for 11th place (6 under par 210 strokes).