Dongbu Construction and Korea Land Trust Championship: 2-Point Victory at the Top
Modified Stableford Format, Prize Money 180 Million Won
Bang Sin-sil Runner-up, Jeong Yoon-ji 3rd, Yoon Ina 9th
Kim Min-byeol secured her first career victory in her second year.
Kim Min-byeol is teeing off at the 5th hole of the 4th round of the Dongbu Construction·Korea Land Trust Championship. [Photo by KLPGA]
On the 13th, at the Iksan Country Club in Iksan-si, Jeonbuk (Par 72, 6,663 yards), she swept up 18 points in the 4th round of the KLPGA Tour Dongbu Construction·Korea Land Trust Championship (total prize money 1 billion KRW) to reach the top with 49 points. She experienced the joy of her first-ever win in her 52nd appearance since debuting on the KLPGA Tour. The winner's prize money was 180 million KRW. This tournament was played in a modified Stableford format. Albatrosses earned 8 points, eagles 5 points, birdies 2 points, bogeys -1 point, and double bogeys or worse -3 points, with rankings determined by total points.
With this victory, Kim Min-byeol wiped away the bitterness of being a ‘winless Rookie of the Year.’ Although she was named Rookie of the Year last year, she had no wins. Fellow rookies Bang Shin-sil had two wins, and Hwang Yu-min also secured one victory, so despite being Rookie of the Year, Kim was not recognized as the most outstanding rookie. This win laid the foundation for Kim Min-byeol, Bang Shin-sil, and Hwang Yu-min to officially open the golden era of the 2023 KLPGA Tour rookie trio.
Kim Min-byeol recorded nine birdies without a single bogey on the day. She surged to the lead in no time by making four consecutive birdies from holes 4 to 7. At the 9th hole (par 4), she did not miss a 2-meter birdie opportunity and was the first to surpass 40 points. A birdie on the 10th hole (par 5) pushed her score to 43 points, and consecutive birdies on holes 14 and 15 kept her sharp shot form going. At the 17th hole (par 5), she sank a 3-meter birdie putt to seal the victory.
Defending champion Bang Shin-sil added 13 points to finish as runner-up with 47 points. Jung Yoon-ji finished third with 45 points, highlighted by an eagle chip shot on the 2nd hole (par 5). Rookie of the Year candidates Yoo Hyun-jo and Park Hye-jun tied for fourth place with 44 points. Kim Min-seon, who led the previous day, only added 8 points and dropped to sixth place with 43 points. Yoon Ina tied for ninth place with 38 points, Park Hyun-kyung was 11th with 37 points, and Park Ye-ji tied for 15th with 31 points.
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