Park Bo-kyum has claimed the title of 'Major Queen' for the first time since her debut on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour.
On September 13, at the Blackstone Icheon Golf Club (par 72) in Icheon, Park shot a final round of 1-under 71, with three birdies and two bogeys, during the KLPGA Tour's third major event of the season, the KB Financial Golden Life Championship, which has a total prize pool of 1.5 billion won.
With a total score of 5-under 283, Park edged out a group tied for second place (4-under 284) by one stroke to secure the victory.
After her win, Park expressed her joy, stating, "I am happy to achieve my first win of the season and my first major title. I had mentioned wanting to win a major before retiring, and it seems that my words have come true. I have realized that positive words lead to positive outcomes."
This victory marks Park's first major title since her debut on the tour in 2021. Additionally, it is her fourth career win, coming approximately 1.5 years after her last victory at the Blue Canyon Ladies Championship in March 2025.
Park has also extended her streak of winning at least once each year since 2013. She has now lifted the trophy in 2023 at the 9th Kyochon 1991 Ladies Open, in 2024 at the Sang Sang In-Hankyung Wow Net Open, and last year at the Blue Canyon Ladies Championship, achieving four consecutive years of victories.
With this win, Park earned 270 million won in prize money, moving her up to 10th place in the prize money rankings with a total of 497.04 million won. She also climbed to 8th place in the points standings.
Starting the final round tied for second, one stroke behind the leader, Park made a long birdie putt from about 15.3 meters on the first hole (par 5) to tie for the lead. She then engaged in a fierce battle for the top spot with Bang Sin-sil, Park Ye-ji, and Yoo Seo-yeon.
Park took the solo lead with a birdie on the third hole (par 4) but briefly lost it after making bogeys on the fifth hole (par 5) and seventh hole (par 3). However, she remained composed under pressure. "I tried to focus on my own game and not get swept up in the competition. There were moments of anxiety during the match, but my goal was to play without regrets. I feel like I finished my game well, making it a successful day," she reflected.
After regaining momentum with a birdie on the eighth hole (par 4), Park took advantage of Yoo Seo-yeon's bogey on the 14th hole (par 4) to tie for the lead again. The turning point came on the 16th hole (par 3), where Park calmly saved par while Yoo made a bogey, allowing Park to take the solo lead. She maintained her lead through the remaining holes, securing her victory against the chasing group.
Recalling the moment she secured her win, Park said, "On my third shot on the 18th hole, I felt a heartbeat like never before. When I was about to make my birdie putt, I thought my heart was racing in my ears. This was the most thrilling and tense victory I've ever experienced."
With her major title secured, Park's next goal is to achieve more victories. She stated, "It would be great to win another major during the remaining season, and I also hope to win at a tournament with a large prize pool. I am particularly eager for the Hi-Tec Jinro Championship in October, where the winner drinks beer from the trophy, and I want to experience that too."
She also expressed her desire to secure a spot in the BMW Ladies Championship, noting that she needs to finish within the top 15 in the prize money rankings to qualify. "I will not lose my initial motivation in the remaining tournaments," she vowed.
Seo Kyo-rim, with four season victories, finished in fifth place with a total score of 3-under 285, earning 60 million won and bringing her season total to 1.38176 billion won, surpassing Kim Min-sol (1.37502 billion won) to take the top spot in the prize money rankings.
Kim Si-hyun and Jeon Woo-ri tied for sixth place with a total score of 2-under 286.
Former LPGA Tour player Jeon In-ji, who participated as an invited player, finished in 29th place with a total score of 5-over 293.
Kim Min-sol concluded the tournament in 47th place with a score of 9-over 297.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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