Hong Ji-won wins DB Group Korea Women's Open

Hong Ji-won won the DB Group Korea Women’s Open Golf Championship at Rainbow Hills Country Club in Eumseong, North Chungcheong on Sunday, claiming her second KLPGA title at this season’s second major.

Hong Ji-won poses with the DB Group Korea Women’s Open Golf Championship trophy after winning the event at Rainbow Hills Country Club in Eumseong, North Chungcheong on Sunday. [KLPGA]

Hong Ji-won won the DB Group Korea Women’s Open Golf Championship at Rainbow Hills Country Club in Eumseong, North Chungcheong on Sunday, claiming her second KLPGA title at this season’s second major.

Hong, 23, was in the race but not on the top of the standings during the second and third round of the tournament, carding a two-under-par, 70, in the second round and managing a three-under-par 69, in the third round.

She then competed fiercely with Ma Da-som and Kim Min-byeol until the very end of the final round, carding a one-under-par, 71, for a final score of 12-under-par, 276, to tie with the two golfers, forcing a playoff to decide the winner.

It was the first time there has ever been a three-way playoff in Korea Women’s Open history.

The playoff on the par-4 18th hole was as competitive as the final round, with all three managing par to tie again, forcing yet another playoff.

Hong then carded a birdie, while Kim managed a par and Ma made a bogey, giving Hong her first title since the Hanwha Championship — another major — in August last year.

“I am so surprised,” Hong said after the event. “I did not expect that I would win until the second half of today’s round.”

Despite an incredibly strong field, Park Min-ji, the winningest golfer on the KLPGA Tour with 17 titles, was the only of the former champions or current season's winners to have a relatively good outing, finishing tied for fourth with nine-under. Park was looking for her second title in a row after last week’s victory at the Celltrion Queens Masters, and her second Korea Women's Open title after winning in 2021.

Sunday’s finish was her third-best finish of the season after a third-place finish at the Mediheal-Hankook Ilbo Championship in April and last week’s victory.

Lee Da-yeon, the 2019 champion as well as the season’s first major winner at the CreaS F&C KLPGA Championship in April, finished in 48th place, missing her second title of the season and fourth major in her career.

Three of Lee’s seven titles come from majors — the 33rd Korea Women’s Open in 2019, the Hanwha Classic 2021 and the CreaS.

Defending champion Lim Hee-jeong, who was looking to become the first golfer to defend the Korea Women’s Open title since Song Bo-bae in 2004, could not even finish the event as she withdrew from the tournament during the second round due to a wrist and ankle injury.

Lim will focus on rehabilitation and miss KLPGA events through the end of July.

The KLPGA Tour will continue Friday with the BC Card-Hankyung Ladies Cup at Fortune Hills in Pocheon, Gyeonggi.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]