Seogyo-rim triumphed over her rival Kim Min-sol in a dramatic playoff.
On August 23, at the Pocheon Hills Country Club in Gyeonggi Province, Seogyo-rim shot a 2-over par 74 in the final round of the BC Card-Hankyung 48th KLPGA Championship, which had a total prize pool of 1.5 billion won. She finished with an overall score of 8-under par 280, tying with Kim Min-sol. In the first playoff hole, the par-5 18th, Seogyo-rim made a birdie to lift the championship trophy, earning a winner's prize of 270 million won.
With this victory, Seogyo-rim's total earnings reached 1.286 billion won, narrowly surpassing Kim Min-sol's 1.286 billion won to take the lead in the prize money standings. She also maintained her lead in wins with four this season, as well as in points (490) and average score.
Seogyo-rim, who won the Rookie of the Year award last year without a victory, has claimed titles at the Celltrion Queens Masters and the Inca Financial The Heaven Masters in June, and she added another win at the Mediheal-Korea Daily Championship last week. This latest victory marks her first major title and makes her the first player to win four times in a season since Lim Jin-hee in 2023.
After her win, Seogyo-rim expressed her joy, saying, "Winning two weeks in a row during the season and achieving my goal of a first major title in the second half is truly fulfilling. I was worried and nervous because things weren't going well today, but I feel good about finishing strong."
Entering the final round, Seogyo-rim held a three-shot lead over Kim Min-sol. However, she made consecutive bogeys on the 3rd (par-5) and 5th (par-4) holes, and her second shot on the 7th hole (par-4) landed in a penalty area, costing her another stroke. This allowed Kim Min-sol to catch up, and they ended the regular round tied.
Reflecting on her early struggles, Seogyo-rim said, "I was very nervous. My heart was racing, and my hands were shaking. I didn't even know what I was thinking while playing. Overall, my shots weren't good. But I trusted my game and kept playing, even though it was frustrating and difficult." She credited her caddy for helping her stay calm, saying, "He kept telling me, 'It's okay, there are still many holes left,' which helped ease my tension."
The turning point came on the 16th hole (par-3), where Seogyo-rim made her first birdie of the day while Kim Min-sol made a bogey, allowing them to tie again. Both players made birdies on the 18th hole (par-5), finishing the regular round tied.
In the playoff on the 18th hole, Seogyo-rim's tee shot went into the rough, but her third shot landed just 60 centimeters from the hole, setting up a crucial birdie. Kim Min-sol, however, could only manage a par, settling for second place.
Seogyo-rim described her feelings during the playoff, saying, "Once I entered the playoff, I felt a mix of nerves and excitement. It was my first playoff in the top tour, so I couldn't help but be nervous. But I thought, 'Let's experience this,' and I played confidently, which led to a good result."
After her victory was confirmed, Seogyo-rim shed tears, stating, "The pressure was intense. As that tension melted away, I felt relieved that I won, and I couldn't help but cry."
Seogyo-rim and Kim Min-sol, both born in 2006, had each won three times before this tournament, sharing the lead in wins. They had alternated victories in four tournaments held in June, highlighting their rivalry.
Fans have dubbed their competition the "Solrim Battle" or "Rimsol Battle" based on their names. When asked if the name should change to "Rimsol Battle" following her victory, Seogyo-rim laughed and said, "Since I won four times first, maybe it should be."
She added, "I've been friends with Min-sol for a long time, and I think this competition is actually good for both of us. Competing with each other makes us both feel like we're improving. I believe our rivalry will continue until the end of this season."
Finally, Seogyo-rim stated her season goals, saying, "I want to finish the season ranked first in points. Winning more titles is also a goal, so I want to achieve that."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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