Da-Yeon Lee Defeats Min-Ji Lee Again

Victory at Hana Financial Group Championship After Second Playoff
Triumphs Again in Playoff, Two Years After Previous Win at Same Event
Ninth Career Title, Takes Home 270 Million Won in Prize Money

'Little Giant' Da-Yeon Lee has become Min-Ji Lee's nemesis.

On September 21 at the Bears Best Cheongna American·European Course (par 72, 6,813 yards) in Incheon, Da-Yeon Lee shot a 3-under-par 69 in the fourth round of the Hana Financial Group Championship on the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour (total prize money: 1.5 billion won). She tied with world No. 4 Min-Ji Lee (Australia) at 9-under-par 279, then captured the victory with a par on the second playoff hole at the 18th (par 4). After defeating Min-Ji Lee in a third playoff at the 2023 Hana Financial Group Championship for her eighth career KLPGA win, Lee ended her two-year title drought with this victory. The winner’s prize is 270 million won.

Notably, Da-Yeon Lee has now won three times at Bears Best Cheongna, including the Hana Financial Group Championship two years ago, the 2019 Korea Women’s Open, and this event. The 2023 Hana Financial Group Championship was held on the same American·European Course as this year, while the 2019 Korea Women’s Open took place on the American·Australasia Course.

Da-Yeon Lee (left) is hugging Min-Ji Lee right after her playoff victory at the Hana Financial Group Championship. Provided by KLPGA

Starting from a tie for second place, three shots behind, Lee recorded five birdies and two bogeys. She swapped two birdies and two bogeys through the 13th hole, struggling to reduce her score, but jumped into contention with back-to-back birdies on the 14th and 15th holes. She then sank an 11.3-meter birdie putt on the 17th hole (par 3) to tie with Min-Ji Lee.

Lee held par on the 18th hole to force a playoff rematch with Min-Ji Lee after two years. Both players made par on the first playoff hole, but the outcome was decided on the second playoff at the same hole. Lee reached the green in two and narrowly missed a 4-meter birdie putt, settling for par. In contrast, Min-Ji Lee failed to reach the green in two, landed her third shot on the green, but missed a 2-meter par putt, conceding the victory.

Da-Yeon Lee said, "Min-Ji is someone I really respect, want to learn from, and aspire to be like. I was just grateful to play a playoff with her," adding, "From the first tee shot of the playoff, I felt grateful, which actually helped me stay relaxed." She continued, "Earlier this year, after a car accident, my back and waist were not in good condition, so I had to withdraw or cancel some tournaments. I received treatment in various places, and now the pain in my arm, which I had surgery on before, is also gone," she said with a bright smile.

Min-Ji Lee previously lost in playoffs to Song Ga-Eun in 2021 and to Da-Yeon Lee in 2023. Last year, she finished tied for third, and this year again fell short of winning her sponsor’s tournament after being edged out by Lee. Park Hye-Jun, who had led for three days, lost three shots and dropped to a tie for third (6-under-par 282). Yoo Hyun-Jo also finished tied for third, Sung Yu-Jin took fifth (5-under-par 283), and Lee Dong-Eun and Lee Jae-Yoon tied for sixth (3-under-par 285).