'3-beon Hol Usan Nightmare' Lee Yewon "Two Consecutive Birdies This Year"

Last Year Hanwha Classic 1R 2-Stroke Penalty and Runner-Up
This Year Leading by 5 Strokes Through Round 2
"Protecting the Fairway Is Important"

‘Daese’ Lee Yewon cannot forget the first round of last year's Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour major tournament, the Hanwha Classic. Last year, during the third hole (par 4) played in the rain, she received a two-stroke penalty because her caddie held an umbrella over her while she was putting. Despite the penalty, she showed her resilience by finishing as runner-up, three strokes behind the winner.

Lee Ye-won is making a chip shot on the 7th hole of the 2nd round of the Hanwha Classic.
[Photo by KLPGA]

Lee Yewon has seized a chance to wash away the ‘penalty nightmare.’ On the 23rd, at the Jade Palace Golf Club (par 72, 6,797 yards) in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, during the Hanwha Classic (total prize money 1.7 billion KRW), she posted a 6-under-par 66, maintaining her position at the top of the leaderboard for the second consecutive day (12-under-par 132). She demonstrated strong mental fortitude by making birdies on the third hole for two days in a row. Leading by five strokes, she laid the foundation for her fourth win of the season and seventh career victory.

Starting as a co-leader two strokes behind, Lee Yewon collected one eagle and five birdies (with one bogey). Following ‘stepping stone birdies’ on holes 1 and 3, she immediately recovered from a bogey on the 7th hole (par 3) with a birdie on the 8th hole (par 4). On the first hole of the back nine, the 10th hole (par 4), she boosted her momentum by making a ‘96-yard shot eagle.’ She then added two more birdies on the 13th and 16th holes, pulling far ahead from her competitors.

In a post-round interview, she smiled and said, "I am satisfied with today’s play. I thought I would win at 15-under-par, but I think I need to lower my score even more." She added, "The tournament course is very difficult. A five-stroke lead can still be caught," and said, "If I keep hitting the fairways tomorrow, I think I can post a good score."