‘Overseas-trained’ Kim Hyo-joo's Comeback Show "13th Domestic Win~"

OK Savings Bank Park Seri Invitational Final Day 6-Under Par Come-From-Behind Victory, Rookie Hong Jeongmin 2nd Place, Lee Somi and Jang Hana Tied 3rd Place

Kim Hyo-joo (right) is posing with host Park Se-ri immediately after winning the OK Savings Bank Park Se-ri Invitational. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] It was a comeback show by overseas player Kim Hyo-joo (26, Lotte).

On the 19th, at Sejong City's Silk River Golf Course (par 72, 6,627 yards), Kim surged with a 6-under-par final round to claim a 2-stroke victory (15-under-par 201) at the KLPGA Tour OK Savings Bank Park Seri Invitational (total prize money 800 million KRW). The winner's prize was 144 million KRW. This is her first win in Korea in 11 months since the major KB Financial Star Championship last October, marking her 13th career victory including one as an amateur.

Starting from a 2-stroke tie for second place, Kim carded eight birdies and two bogeys. Although she began shakily with a bogey on the 2nd hole (par 4), she changed the momentum with a birdie on the 4th hole (par 5). She then made three consecutive birdies from the 6th to 8th holes, two more birdies on the 10th and 11th holes, and added another birdie on the 14th hole (par 4), leaping to a 2-stroke lead. She lost one stroke due to a tee shot mistake on the 15th hole (par 3), but sealed her victory with a birdie on the final 18th hole (par 5).

"I gave my family a great Chuseok gift," she said, explaining her winning secret, "I think I regained my focus after the bogey on the first hole." She added, "Next week, I plan to fly to the U.S. to compete in two LPGA Tour events, and afterward, I will participate in the BMW Ladies Championship held in Busan." Rookie Hong Jung-min (19, CJ OnStyle) shot 5 under par to finish second (13-under-par 203), marking her second runner-up finish following last month's Jeju Samdasoo Masters.

Two-time champion Lee So-mi (22, SBI Savings Bank), second in prize money Jang Ha-na (29, BC Card), Kim Ji-hyun (30, Hanwha Q CELLS), and Lee So-young (24, Lotte) tied for third place (12-under-par 204). The previous day's leader Lee Ga-young (22, NH Investment & Securities) exchanged three birdies for three bogeys and failed to lower her score. Although she chased Kim Hyo-joo to within one stroke with a birdie on the 15th hole, bogeys on the 16th and 18th holes caused her to falter. She finished tied for seventh (11-under-par 205).