Shin Dain Secures Dramatic First Win in Playoff
Tee Shot Rolls 407.9m Along Cart Path in First Playoff
Yoo Hyunjo and Han Bitna Share Second Place; Park Minji Finishes Seventh
Shin Dain achieved her first career victory with a little help from above.
On August 31, at the Sunny Point Country Club in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province (par 72, 6,826 yards), during the final third round of the KG Ladies Open on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour (total prize money of 1 billion won), she reduced her score by one stroke, allowing Yoo Hyunjo and Han Bitna to tie with her at 12-under-par 204. However, she secured a winning birdie on the second playoff hole at the 18th (par 5). After debuting on the regular tour last year without ever finishing in the top 10, she claimed her first victory at this event. She received a winner's prize of 180 million won, an Actyon HEV vehicle worth about 37 million won, and a one-year free round pass at Sunny Point Country Club.
Shin Dain is cheering after making a winning birdie in the second playoff of the KG Ladies Open. Photo by KLPGA
Shin Dain started as the leader by three strokes and carded three birdies and two bogeys, which led to a playoff. She was fortunate in the first playoff. Her tee shot veered right and landed on the cart path asphalt, but the ball kept bouncing and rolling without stopping. Rolling back and forth between the rough and the road, the ball finally settled in the rough. Her tee shot distance was an impressive 407.9 meters. With her second shot, she placed the ball just 2.2 meters from the hole, creating an eagle opportunity. Although she missed the eagle, she finished the hole with a birdie. Han Bitna made par and was eliminated.
Yoo Hyunjo succeeded with a birdie, advancing to the second playoff. Although it seemed Shin Dain might miss her chance at victory, she remained composed. In the second playoff, she sank a 5.5-meter birdie putt, while Yoo Hyunjo missed her 4.7-meter birdie putt, bringing the match to a close. Shin Dain recalled, "When I hit my tee shot, the ball went right, and I thought it was going to be an irrecoverable situation. But the ball just kept rolling. I couldn't believe such luck could come my way."
Since joining in July 2020, Shin Dain had never finished in the top 10 on the regular tour. Last year, she missed the cut in 17 out of 26 tournaments, with her best result being a tie for 22nd. This year, she failed to make the cut in 9 out of 18 tournaments, with her best finish being a tie for 14th. Shin Dain smiled brightly, saying, "My father, who doesn't have a car, travels to every tournament by company bus or rental car. The winner's prize this time happened to be a car, so I think it will be a great gift for my father."
Yoo Hyunjo and Han Bitna tied for second place, while Yoo Jina, Cho Hyerim, and Lim Jinyoung shared fourth place at 11-under-par 205. Park Minji and Choi Yebon tied for seventh at 10-under-par 206. Lee Yewon, who has won three times this year, finished tied for 64th at 3-over-par 219.
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