Jiyoung Park's Comeback Victory "I am the Queen of Elysian"... What About Somi Lee?

S-OIL Championship Final Day 4 Under Par "Top Spot After 2 Years 11 Months", '6-Time Champion' Park Minji Jumps to Tied 8th with 7 Under Par Daily Best

Park Ji-young is cheering while holding the trophy immediately after winning the S-OIL Championship. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "I am the Queen of Elysian."

Park Ji-young (25, Korea Land Trust) achieved a dramatic come-from-behind victory. On the final day of the KLPGA Tour S-OIL Championship (total prize money 700 million KRW) held at Elysian Golf Club in Jeju Island (par 72, 6,653 yards) on the 7th, she shot 4-under par to secure a one-stroke win (11-under par 205). This marks her third career win and first in 2 years and 11 months since topping the Hyosung Championship, which was part of the 2019 season, during her 'Vietnam expedition' in December 2018. The winner's prize money is 126 million KRW.

Park Ji-young was crowned Rookie of the Year in 2015 without a single win. It is interesting that she overcame the hardship of being a 'winless Rookie of the Year' by winning this tournament in June 2016. It is truly her 'promised land.' After several setbacks, she barely added another trophy in Vietnam. Starting the day tied for 6th, she recorded five birdies and one bogey. Although she began with a bogey on the 2nd hole (par 4), she made birdies consecutively on the 4th, 6th, 8th, 13th, and 15th holes. The highlight was the 15th hole (par 4), where she holed a wedge shot from 11.2 yards.

Kim Su-ji (25) finished second (10-under par 206), while Lee So-mi (22, SBI Savings Bank), who led for two consecutive days, slipped to a tie for third (9-under par 207) after struggling with putting in the final stages. She made bogeys on three consecutive holes: a 3-yard putt on the 15th hole (par 4), a mere 0.7-yard putt on the 16th hole (par 3), and a 1.6-yard putt on the 17th hole (par 4) that just missed the hole. Lim Hee-jung (21, Korea Land Trust) joined the tie for third place. Six-time champion Park Min-ji (23, NH Investment & Securities) surged to a tie for eighth (7-under par 209) with a daily best 7-under par round.