Maseoyoung achieved her first career victory at the Iceberg Golf-Seoul Newspaper Open, part of the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, with a total prize purse of 1.5 billion won.
On October 18, at the H1 Club in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, Maseoyoung shot a final round of 1-over par 73, with two birdies and three bogeys.
With a total score of 4-under par 212, Maseoyoung tied with Seong Yujin and claimed victory after the second playoff hole. The winner's prize is 270 million won.
Making her debut on the regular tour in 2023, Maseoyoung celebrated her first win in her 83rd tournament. Prior to this event, she was ranked 56th in the season's prize money standings, making her future participation uncertain. However, this victory secured her tour card through the 2028 season.
Maseoyoung's season earnings now stand at 442,338,333 won, elevating her to 22nd place in the prize money rankings. She also added 90 points to her target points, placing her 30th with a total of 132 points.
The final round, played in inclement weather, was competitive until the end. Starting the third round as the sole leader by one stroke, Maseoyoung began with a birdie on the first hole (par 4) but stumbled with consecutive bogeys on the second and third holes (both par 4). She regained momentum with a birdie on the fourth hole (par 4) but lost another stroke on the fifth hole (par 3). From the sixth to the eighteenth holes, she made par.
After Maseoyoung made a birdie on the 14th hole (par 3), she fell two strokes behind Seong Yujin, who took the lead. However, Seong Yujin made back-to-back bogeys on the 15th hole (par 4) and the 16th hole (par 5), allowing Maseoyoung to finish the regular round tied for the lead.
In the first playoff hole on the 18th hole (par 4), both Maseoyoung and Seong Yujin made par. The outcome was decided in the second playoff hole on the same hole. Maseoyoung hit her second shot onto the green, leaving her 8.4 meters from the hole, and made par with two putts. In contrast, Seong Yujin's second shot went over the green, and after a long chip shot, she missed her 5.2-meter par putt, finishing with a bogey.
After her victory, Maseoyoung expressed in an interview with the broadcasting network, "This was my first experience in a playoff, and it was also my first time in the champion group. It was a fun and great experience. I am grateful and enjoyed playing with players who have winning experiences, rather than feeling nervous. I have always thought that only talented players could win. I am not a talented player, but I won. I hope many aspiring golfers can find strength from this."
Lee Ye-won and Kim Si-hyun finished tied for third with a total score of 3-under par 213.
‘Super Rookie’ Kim Min-sol shot three under par on the final day, finishing with a total score of 2-under par 214, tying for fifth with Lee Chae-eun and Kim Min-joo.
After a hiatus of over three years, Ko Jin-young returned to the KLPGA Tour, finishing tied for 18th with a total score of 1-over par 217.
Yoo Hae-ran, competing on the LPGA Tour, finished tied for 42nd with a total score of 6-over par 222, while Yoon Ina placed tied for 53rd with a score of 9-over par 225.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.