Jeon In-ji 4th Place "Top 10 in 3 Consecutive Tournaments~"... Ernst's 5-Stroke Victory

Drive On Championship Final Day 3-Under Par 'Seonjeon', Unst Earns 3rd Career Win, Kim Seyoung Ties for 14th Place

Jeon In-ji is teeing off on the 3rd hole on the final day of the Drive On Championship. Ocala, Florida, USA = Getty Images / Multibits Photo by Multibits

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ‘Dumbo’ Jeon In-ji (27, KB Financial Group) has achieved a ‘Top 10’ finish in three consecutive tournaments.

On the 8th (Korean time), at the Drive On Championship (total prize $1.5 million), the third event of the 2021 LPGA Tour season held at Golden Ocala Golf Club in Ocala, Florida, USA (par 72, 6,852 yards), she finished 4th with a 3-under-par final round (7-under-par 281 total). Following her 4th place at the season opener Diamond Resort Tournament and a tie for 8th place at last week’s Gainbridge LPGA, she has placed within the top 10 in all three tournaments she has played this year.

Jeon In-ji is the only player to have three consecutive ‘Top 10’ finishes since the season began. Starting tied for 8th place, 9 strokes behind, she recorded 4 birdies and 1 bogey. She reduced her score by 2 strokes in the front nine with birdies on holes 5 and 8, and added consecutive birdies on holes 11 and 12 in the back nine, showing great momentum. However, a bogey on the 13th hole (par 4) halted her progress, which was a disappointment as it cost her the season’s best result. Her average driving distance was 253 yards, and she made 28 putts during the round.

Jeon In-ji is well known as a ‘major hunter.’ She has won a total of 9 titles on the Korean LPGA (KLPGA) Tour, including 3 majors, and has claimed 2 major titles each on the LPGA Tour and the Japan LPGA (JLPGA) Tour. The highlight was in 2015 when she won the US Women’s Open, securing a ‘direct ticket’ to the LPGA Tour and achieving major victories across three tours: Korea, the USA, and Japan.

It is surprising that she has been without a title for 2 years and 5 months since winning her third career title at the KEB Hana Bank Championship in October 2018. This year, she is showing a definite comeback mode and is regarded as close to winning again. Austin Ernst (USA) added a 2-under-par round to claim a commanding 5-stroke victory (15-under-par 273 total). This was her third career win after 7 months since the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship last August, with a winner’s prize of $225,000 (about 250 million KRW).

The United States continued its winning streak with three consecutive victories since the season opener, the first time since 2007. Jennifer Kupcho finished 2nd (10-under-par 278), ‘Diamond Resort Tournament champion’ Jessica Korda tied for 8th (4-under-par 284), and ‘Gainbridge LPGA champion’ Nelly Korda (all from the USA) tied for 28th (even par 288). From Korea, Kim Sei-young (28, Mirae Asset) finished tied for 14th (3-under-par 285), and Park Sung-hyun (28) tied for 34th (1-over-par 289) to conclude the tournament.