Gayoung Lee Wins Extension Victory... Defeats Yoonina and Choi Yerim

‘Winning Birdie’ in the First Playoff at Lotte Open
Second Career Victory, Prize Money of 216 Million Won
Yoo Nina Fails Comeback Victory with 9 Under Par
Yoo Hyunjo 4th, Park Hyunkyung 9th, Kim Hyoju 16th

Lee Gayoung claimed the top spot after an extended playoff.

Lee Gayoung is making an iron shot on the 5th hole of the 4th round at the Lotte Open.
[Photo by KLPGA]

On the 7th, at the Bears Best Cheongna Golf Club in Incheon, USA-Australasia Course (Par 72, 6,655 yards), Lee finished the final 4th round of the KLPGA Tour Lotte Open (total prize money 1.2 billion KRW) with 1-under par, tying with Yoon Ina and Choi Yerim at 18-under par 270 strokes. However, she secured the victory with a winning birdie on the first hole of the resumed playoff at the 18th hole (Par 4). This marked her second career win, 1 year and 9 months after her first regular tour victory at the October 2022 Dongbu Construction-Korea Land Trust Championship. The winner's prize money was 216 million KRW.

Lee Gayoung started with a 3-stroke lead, recording 2 birdies and 1 bogey. After a tedious parade of pars over 11 holes, she made her first birdie at the 12th hole (Par 3). Although she missed a short par putt at the 16th hole (Par 4), she immediately recovered with a birdie at the 17th hole (Par 3), pushing the match into a playoff. In the playoff among the three players, Lee’s second shot landed within 1 meter of the hole, making her the only player to successfully make a birdie. Lee exclaimed, "It was tough because things didn’t go well after my first win. I think I handled the playoff without nervousness. I’m even happier to win in front of my brother."

Yoo Yina is making an iron shot on the 2nd hole of the 4th round at the Lotte Open.
[Photo by KLPGA]

Yoon Ina started tied for 9th place, 8 strokes behind, and showed strong finishing power with 9-under par but had to settle for second place. Choi Yerim also tasted the bitterness of consecutive playoff losses in two tournaments, following last week’s McCol-Mona Yongpyong Open. Rookie points leader Yoo Hyunjo performed well, reducing 5 strokes to finish tied for 4th place at 17-under par 271 strokes, just 1 stroke behind. Park Hyunkyung, who was aiming for her third consecutive win, finished tied for 9th place at 11-under par 277 strokes. LPGA member Kim Hyoju finished tied for 16th place at 8-under par 280 strokes, and defending champion Choi Hyejin finished tied for 20th place at 7-under par 281 strokes.