Seogyo-rim triumphed over her rival Kim Min-sol in a dramatic playoff at the BC Card-Hankyung 48th KLPGA Championship held at the Pocheon Hills Country Club in Gyeonggi Province on August 23. Seogyo-rim shot a final round of 2-over par 74, with two birdies and four bogeys, finishing with a total score of 8-under par 280.
After tying with Kim Min-sol, Seogyo-rim secured the victory by making a birdie on the first playoff hole, the par-5 18th, earning a prize of 270 million won.
This win brings Seogyo-rim's total earnings to 1.286 billion won, placing her narrowly ahead of Kim Min-sol, who has 1.286 billion won. Seogyo-rim also leads in the number of wins this season with four, as well as in points (490) and average score.
Last year, Seogyo-rim won the Rookie of the Year award without any victories. This year, she has claimed consecutive 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. With this latest victory, she has achieved her first major title and is the first player to win four times in a season since Lim Jin-hee in 2023.
After her win, Seogyo-rim expressed her satisfaction, saying, "I am really proud to have won two consecutive weeks during the season and to achieve my goal of winning my first major title in the second half of the year. I was worried and nervous because things weren't going well today, but I feel good about how it ended."
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, resulting in another lost 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, "Every time I felt anxious, my caddy would say, 'It's okay, there are still many holes left,' which helped me relax."
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, Seogyo-rim's tee shot went into the rough, but she managed to place her third shot just 60 centimeters from the hole for a decisive birdie, while Kim Min-sol could only make par, settling for second place.
Seogyo-rim described her feelings during the playoff, saying, "Entering the playoff, I felt a mix of nerves and excitement. It was my first playoff in the first division, 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 it ended in victory, and I think I cried without realizing it."
Seogyo-rim and Kim Min-sol, both born in 2006, have been fierce competitors, each winning three times before this tournament. Their rivalry has captivated fans, who have dubbed their contests "Solrim Battle" or "Rimsol Battle." When asked if the name should change to "Rimsol Battle" after her win, Seogyo-rim laughed and said, "Since I won four times first, maybe it should."
She added, "I've been friends with Min-sol for a long time, so I think this competition is actually good for both of us. I feel like we are improving our skills through this rivalry. I believe our competition will continue until the end of the season."
Finally, Seogyo-rim stated her goals for the season, saying, "I want to finish first in points for sure. Winning more titles is also a goal, so I want to achieve that."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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