Overcame a 3-Stroke Deficit to An Seon-ju, Who Was Leading the Day Before, for Victory
[Asia Economy Reporter Byun Seon-jin] Han Jin-seon (25) achieved her first career victory on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour in her sixth year as a professional.
On the 21st, Han Jin-seon shot a 4-under-par 68 in the final round of the KLPGA Tour High1 Resort Ladies Open (total prize money 800 million KRW) held at High1 Resort Country Club (par 72) in Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon Province, securing a come-from-behind victory with a total score of 11-under-par 277.
Han Jin-seon, who debuted on the KLPGA Tour in 2017, earned her first win in her 131st tournament. She shares the fourth place for the most starts before a first win alongside Kim Soon-hee, who currently serves as the KLPGA Executive Director. The record for the most starts before a first win is held by Ahn Song-yi (32), who won after 236 tournaments.
Starting the final day in second place, three strokes behind the leader Ahn Sun-joo, Han Jin-seon lost one stroke with a three-putt on the 4th hole (par 5). Despite showing excellent performance by finishing in the top five ten times over six seasons, including two runner-up finishes in 2018 when she was in her second year, she was often criticized for not being able to perform under pressure in crucial moments.
However, she quickly recovered her strokes with stepping-stone birdies on the par-3 6th and 8th holes, followed by consecutive birdies on the 13th hole (par 4) and 14th hole (par 3), taking the lead.
The highlight was the 17th hole. Choi Ye-rim, who was pressuring from second place by one stroke, made a long-distance birdie putt to tie for the lead, but Han Jin-seon responded with a birdie putt just over 1 meter, maintaining a one-stroke lead. Ultimately, on the final 18th hole (par 4), while Choi Ye-rim made a bogey after reaching the green in three shots, Han Jin-seon finished with an easy par after reaching the green in two shots, securing the victory.
Han Jin-seon, who received a winner's prize of 144 million KRW, jumped 15 places in the season's money ranking from 37th to 22nd (274 million KRW). Her ranking in the points race for the Player of the Year also rose six places from 28th to 22nd.
Choi Ye-rim, who competed fiercely with Han Jin-seon until the end, finished tied for second place with Yoo Hae-ran. After finishing one stroke behind in the runner-up position at the Jeju Samdasoo Masters on the 7th, she postponed her first career win again just two weeks later.
Yoo Hae-ran, who reduced her score by four strokes without any bogeys in the final round, secured her 12th top-10 finish and firmly maintained her lead in the Player of the Year points. Ahn Sun-joo (35), a "twin mom" who started the final round with a three-stroke lead aiming for her eighth KLPGA Tour win in 13 years, lost five strokes that day and dropped to a tie for eighth place (5-under-par 283).
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