Overtime, driven to a hard chase, but one shot was enough...Lee Ga-young won 2 games in 2 years
Jul 07, 2024
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Lee Ga-young shot a 1-under 71 with two birdies and one bogey in the final round of the KLPGA Tour Lotte Open at Bear's Best Cheongna U.S. and Australian Course (par 72, 6655 yards) in Incheon on the 7th. Lee Ga-young, who became an 18-under 270 in total, went into extra time with Yoon or Choi Ye-rim, but she tasted the joy of winning as she decided the match in the first round. After winning his first career victory in the Dongbu Construction-Korea Land Trust Championship in October 2022, he will record his second career win in more than two years.
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Yoon In-na's rise, which reduced four strokes in the first half alone, continued until the second half. He made birdies in succession in the 10th and 11th holes (par 5), and added birdies in the 14th and 17th holes (par 3). At the 18th hole (par 4), he made a 6.2 meter birdie putt and recorded his ninth birdie. He swept nine birdies without a bogey and set a course record, matching Choi Ye-rim with an 18-under 270 total.
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Lee Ga-young made a birdie on the 12th hole (par 3) but missed a 1.8m par putt on the 16th hole (par 4). However, he reduced one stroke again by making a 6-meter birdie putt at the 17th hole (par 3), and eventually went into extra time with Yoon or Choi Ye-rim as they became 18-under 270. The extra time began for the third consecutive week in 10 years, following three consecutive weeks of extra time between June 25 and July 26, 1986, and September 18 and October 12, 2014, respectively.
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Choi Ye-rim, who putt from 2.5 meters to the right of the green, also swallowed her regret as the ball flowed to the left of the hole cup.
Lee Ga-young, who dropped his second shot 1m below the hole cup closest to the three, calmly succeeded in birdie putt and tasted the joy of winning.
Lee Ga-young, who burst into tears after confirming the championship, said after the game that "Golf did not go as well as I thought after my first win." "I remembered some difficult moments." I looked back on the moment when I won the championship. Then, looking at the leaderboard after the birdie on the 17th hole, I thought 'There must be one chance' I think the 18th hole was more nerve-racking than the overtime hole." In the meantime, "I am grateful to my family for always worrying about me more than me. I want to show better performance in the future."
ppark@sportschosun.com
