Achieves 2nd Career Win at Doosan Match Play Championship
Defeats Friends Jo Ah-yeon, Lim Hee-jeong, Park Hyun-kyung to Claim Top Spot
"Aiming for 2 Consecutive Wins at Lotte Open and Victory at Hanwha Classic"
One experience became a stepping stone for great growth.
This is the story of "late bloomer golfer" Sung Yoo-jin. Last month, she competed as an invited player at the LPGA Tour Lotte Championship held in Hawaii, USA, and fought for the championship. After a playoff with Grace Kim (Australia) and Liu Wei (China), she lost the title to Grace Kim but could have earned a direct entry to the LPGA Tour. Sung Yoo-jin said at the time, "I think I made myself well known, and it was an incredible experience. It feels like a turning point in my golf career," adding, "Playing like a top-ranked player, I learned a lot in every aspect, including my swing and mindset."
After participating in the Lotte Championship, Sung Yoo-jin soared domestically. She finished 8th at the KLPGA Championship, a major on the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour last month, and 9th at the NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship last week. She demonstrated stable skills, not missing any cuts this season. On the 21st, she won the Doosan Match Play Championship (total prize money 900 million KRW) at Radenna Golf Club in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, with a perfect 7-0 record. This was her second career victory, 11 months after her first win at the Lotte Open in June last year, with a prize of 225 million KRW.
Sung Yoo-jin (right) is hugging Park Hyun-kyung immediately after winning the Doosan Match Play Championship final. [Photo by KLPGA]
Sung Yoo-jin advanced to the round of 16 by consecutively defeating Cho Eun-hye, Kim Min-byeol, and Cho A-yeon in the group stage. She then overcame Lim Hee-jung, Yoo Seo-yeon, defending champion Hong Jeong-min, and Park Hyun-kyung to become the "Match Queen." Sung Yoo-jin debuted on the regular tour in 2019 but was overshadowed by her fellow 2000-born peers Park Hyun-kyung, Lim Hee-jung, and Cho A-yeon. However, in this tournament, she surpassed all three friends and rose to the top.
Sung Yoo-jin candidly admitted, "Honestly, I had never performed better than my peers before," adding, "I never compared myself to them because I thought we were in completely different classes." She said, "I have lived each day doing my best in my own style," and cheered, "I am really happy to be rewarded with such great results." Sung Yoo-jin won again less than a year after her first victory at the 73rd Lotte Open in June last year. She humbly stated, "I have always thought I was not a player who plays well consistently. My goal was to improve every year and become a better player than the previous year," adding, "Because I set such goals, I think I was able to develop a bit more."
Regarding the evaluation that her skills improved after the LPGA Tour experience, she explained, "I think the technical aspects are similar," and added, "The mindset and experience of challenges and failures after playing overseas became an opportunity to become stronger as a person, including mentally." Sung Yoo-jin is a warm-hearted golfer. She said, "I plan to donate again this time for youth players," and added, "I hope youth players receive more attention and grow their dreams by watching seniors like these." About her goals for the remaining season, she revealed, "To win the Lotte Open again in two weeks for a consecutive victory and to win the Hanwha Classic, a sponsor tournament."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
