Lee Ye-won has been crowned the inaugural champion of the Doosan E&C Weave Championship on the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, with a total prize fund of 1.2 billion won.
Lee edged out rookie Kim Min-sun with an overtime birdie on the final day of the tournament at Teddy Valley Golf & Resort (Par 72) in Seogwipo City, Jeju Island.
Lee, who shot a 4-under 68 on the day, and Kim, who was two strokes off the pace, finished the final three rounds at 10-under-par 206, forcing a playoff on the 18th hole (par-4).
Lee sank a 6-meter birdie putt in the extra session to beat Kim, who failed to capitalize on a 4-meter birdie opportunity.
It was Lee’s second career victory, coming just four months after her first at the Lotte Rent-a-Car Women’s Open in April.
As the Doosan E&C Weave Championship was held for the first time this year, Lee also had the honor of being the inaugural champion.
Both victories came at a golf course in Seogwipo, Jeju Island.
The Lotte Skyhill Jeju Country Club, the site of the Lotte Rent-a-Car Women’s Open, where she won her first title, is a 15-minute drive away.
“I started playing golf and won my first title at the 2015 Boys’ Championships on Jeju Island,” Lee said, adding, “I don’t know why I’m so good on Jeju Island.”
With the $216 million prize money, Lee overtook Park Ji-young to take the top spot on the money list ($725.92 million) and leapfrogged her into second place on the Order of Merit.
Lee is now tied for the multi-win lead (2 wins) with Park Min-ji, Lim Jin-hee, and Park Ji-young, making her a strong contender for various individual titles.
Last year, Lee was named Rookie of the Year.
“I wanted to win two titles in the first half of the year, but I didn’t, but I’m happy to have won multiple titles in the second half of the year,” said Lee, who added, “My next goal is to win a major and win the grand prize.”
Lee also avenged her overtime loss to Park Min-ji at the Celltrion Queens Masters in June.
Lee, who made her debut last year, has played overtime twice this year.
“After losing in the first overtime, I promised myself that I would win if I had another chance, but I washed my face faster than I thought,” Lee said.
Entering the final round in a tie for sixth place, three strokes behind leader Park Hyun-kyung, Lee turned things around with a stellar shot selection.
After her first birdie on the fifth (par-4) followed by a birdie on the eighth (par-5), Lee took a one-stroke lead with a birdie on the 12th (par-4).
After a 10-meter birdie putt at the 16th (par-4) to take the lead, Lee dropped a stroke at the 17th (par-3) when her tee shot was short and her chip shot was longer than expected, allowing Kim to take the lead.
Lee saved a three-putt threat on the 18th (par-4) and then sank a gutsy birdie putt to tie the match in overtime.
“For some reason, I felt good from this morning, and I didn’t think about winning the tournament, but I reduced my strokes one by one, and the result was good,” said Lee. “In the overtime, I told myself not to hit it short and hit it boldly, and it went in.”
Kim, who played alongside a trio of rookies in Hwang Yoo-min, Kim Min-byul and Bang Shin-sil, held her own in her first final-round championship match of the day but couldn’t get over the final hurdle.
However, he earned 132 million won as runner-up prize money for his highest ranking since his debut and secured his seeding for next year.
Kim Min-byul, who is chasing Hwang Yoo-min in the rookie of the year race, fired his best score of the day, a 7-under 65, to finish in third place (9-under 207).
Lim Jin-hee, who picked up her second win of the season at the Jeju Samdasu Masters seven days ago, shot a 2-under 70 to finish in a tie for fourth (8-under 208).
Park Hyun-kyung, who took a one-stroke lead the day before and was looking for her fourth win in two years, faltered with a 1-over-par 73 to finish in a tie for fourth.
The tournament organizers donated 49.8 million won to the victims of Typhoon Kanon through various donation programs during the tournament.
The donation program was sponsored by Doosan E&C and included Lim Hee-jeong, Park Eun-beom, Yoo Hyun-joo, Lee Hyun-joo, 카지노사이트넷 and national team member Kim Min-sol.