KLPGA Tour Major KB Financial Star Championship Victory "Jump to 1st in Prize Money", Ko Jin-young 2nd Place
Kim Hyo-joo is cheering as her victory is confirmed on the final day of the KB Financial Star Championship. Photo by KLPGA
[Asia Economy Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyunjun] Kim Hyoju (25, Lotte) is on track to become the 'domestic prize money queen.'
This year, due to the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), she is focusing on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour instead of the United States. In June, she won the Lotte Cantata Women's Open after an extended playoff against Kim Seyoung (27), and on the final day of the KB Financial Star Championship (total prize money 1.2 billion KRW) held on the 18th at Blackstone Golf Club in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province (par 72, 6,702 yards), she posted a 3-over-par and achieved a huge 8-stroke victory (9-under-par 279).
Kim Hyoju took a 10-stroke lead early on, crossing the '90% mark' ahead of time, and on this day, considering the difficult pin positions, she focused on defense, recording 1 birdie and 4 bogeys. This marked her 12th career win in majors, and most notably, with the winner's prize of 240 million KRW, she immediately took over first place in the prize money rankings (656.2 million KRW). Attention should be paid to her becoming joint leader in wins (2 wins) and ranking first in average score (69.17), signaling the start of a serious competition for individual titles.
Kim Hyoju is a player who dominated the professional stage since her amateur days, earning the nickname 'Monster.' In 2012, she collected trophies in Korea (Lotte Mart Women's Open), Japan (Suntory), and Taiwan (Swinging Skirts), and in Japan, she set remarkable records as the youngest winner ever (16 years and 332 days) and the lowest 18-hole score (61). She turned professional in October and caused a sensation by winning the Hyundai China Women's Open in December in the shortest time (2 months and 11 days).
Kim Hyo-joo posed holding the trophy immediately after winning the KB Financial Star Championship. Photo by KLPGA
In 2014, she swept 5 wins, earning not only the most wins but also the prize money queen, the grand prize, and the lowest average score award, becoming the 'quadruple crown' winner of the KLPGA Tour. The highlight was securing a 'direct ticket to the LPGA Tour' by winning the Evian Championship in September. Kim Hyoju attracted even more spotlight by becoming a major champion as a non-member. In 2015, she immediately moved to the LPGA Tour, recording a total of 3 wins including the Founders Cup in March and the Bahamas Classic in January 2016.
Afterward, a slump was rather unexpected. She restructured her form through grueling winter training in 2018, and in June last year, she created a 'comeback mode' with three runner-up finishes at the NW Arkansas Championship, the Evian Championship in July, and the Toto Japan Classic in November. The Lotte Cantata Women's Open became a turning point. Kim Hyoju herself said, "My original goal was one win, but I am happy to have won two majors," and added, "I will participate in all remaining tournaments and definitely maintain first place in average score," showing her fighting spirit.
World No. 1 Ko Jin-young (25) reduced her score by one stroke and settled in second place (1-under-par 287). Lee Jeongmin (28, Hanwha Q CELLS), Park Jooyoung (30, Dongbu Construction), and Lee Jeongeun6 (24, Daebang Construction) are tied for third place (even par 288). Defending champion Lim Heejeong (20, Hanwha Q CELLS) lost 4 strokes and dropped to a tie for seventh place (2-over-par 290). Her iron shot green hit rate dropped to 50%, making the course a thorny path, and a double bogey on the 13th hole (par 3) dealt a critical blow, halting her momentum.
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