Second player after Kim Min-sol to record season 2 wins…Jang Eun-soo finishes as runner-up 2 strokes behind
Seo Gyo-rim, Winner of the Inca Finance The Heaven Masters
Seo Gyo-rim climbed back to the top again after two weeks with a fearsome upward trend on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf (KLPGA) tour.
On the 21st, Seo Gyo-rim shot a 2-under-par 70 with 4 birdies and 2 bogeys in the third round on the final day of the Inca Finance The Heaven Masters (total prize pool 1 billion won) held at The Heaven Country Club West/South Course (Par 72) in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province.
Seo Gyo-rim, who shot a combined 16-under-par 200 over four days, defeated Jang Eun-soo (combined 14-under-par 202) by 2 strokes.
Seo Gyo-rim, who achieved her first career victory at the Celtrion Queens Masters on the 7th, became the second player this season to record 2 wins together with Kim Min-sol, shaking up the KLPGA tour landscape.
Receiving 180 million won in prize money, Seo Gyo-rim moved up from 3rd to 2nd in the season earnings ranking and to 1st in the Grand Prize points ranking.
Seo Gyo-rim, who received the Rookie of the Year award last year without a victory, also set a 'wire-to-wire' victory record by taking a share of the lead in the first round and then taking sole control from the second round onward to win this tournament.
Seo Gyo-rim, Winner of the Inca Finance The Heaven Masters
Starting with a sole 3-stroke lead, Seo Gyo-rim faced a fierce charge from Jang Eun-soo, who was playing in the same group.
Jang Eun-soo, who cut 2 strokes in the front nine, tied for the lead with Seo Gyo-rim by sinking a 5.5m birdie putt at hole 12 (Par 3).
As Jang Eun-soo made a bogey at hole 13 (Par 4) and faltered, Seo Gyo-rim's charge resumed.
Seo Gyo-rim made a birdie at hole 15 (Par 3) after dropping her tee shot to 2.8m. At hole 16 (Par 4), considered the most difficult hole, she placed her second shot to 1.7m and converted it for a birdie, pulling away to a sole 3-stroke lead.
As Jang Eun-soo made a birdie at hole 17 (Par 4) and came within 2 strokes, Seo Gyo-rim appeared to tense up, hitting her second shot at hole 18 (Par 4) into the left bunker.
With her third shot, Seo Gyo-rim got the ball to the center of the green and holed out with two putts, clinching the victory.
In a broadcast interview after her victory, Seo Gyo-rim said, "I'm happy to achieve my second season win so quickly," and "My goal this season is to be a multiple-time winner, and I will definitely win when the opportunity comes."
Yu Hyun-jo, who cut 7 strokes on the final day, finished with a combined 13-under-par 203 and moved up to 3rd place.
Bang Shin-sil, Seong Yu-jin, and Jeon Ye-sung tied for 4th place with a combined 12-under-par 204.
Kim Min-sol, who reached the season 2-win mark first, finished the tournament at 5-under-par 211, tied for 34th place.
Seo Gyo-rim, who was a national representative alongside Kim Min-sol, who is the same age, said, "Because Kim is such a skilled player and a friend, we always congratulate and support each other," and "I want to continue to have friendly competition where we can help each other improve."
cty@yna.co.kr