'In a competition where she dreamed of winning 10 titles in Tongsan' Park Ji-young is back, beating Lee Ye-won to come from behind to win a major competition...Prize money, second place in the grand prize.

Aug 25, 2024

Park Ji-young Hanwha Classic 2024 FR No. 2 tee shot

Veteran Park Ji-young (28) won the major championship for the third time this season.

Park Ji-young won the final fourth round of the Hanwha Classic (total prize money of 1.7 billion won), the third major tournament of the season and the first major tournament in the second half, at Jade Palace Golf Club (par 72) in Chuncheon, Gangwon-do, on the 25th, with a total of 13-under 275.

It is the third victory of the season and the 10th career victory following the KLPGA Tour Medi Hill Hankook Ilbo Championship and the KLPGA Tour's 10th Kyochon 1991 Ladies Open. It is the second major championship in a year since the KB Financial Star Championship in September last year.

Park Ji-young rose to second place in the prize money ranking (956.1 million won) and second place in the grand prize points with 306 million won in prize money. Park Hyun-kyung, who leads the prize money with 959.85 million won, is only 3.75 million won apart. The target point is also a distance that can be reversed as a result of one competition.

Park Ji-young Hanwha Classic 2024 FR No. 1 green figure

It was a thrilling come-from-behind victory.

Until the third round, Lee Ye-won aimed to win the wire-to-wire title with an 11-under-par two-shot lead.

However, experienced Park Ji-young dug into the breakthrough after losing five shots on the day. Park Ji-young, who was chasing Lee Ye-won at 9 under par until the third round, took the lead by reducing three shots in the first half alone. In the second half, Park Ji-young, who was chased by Hwang Yoo-min by repeating birdies and bogeys from holes 11 to 14, maintained a two- to three-shot lead with a seasoned and calm operation. Park Ji-young celebrated her victory by putting her third shot next to the hole cup at the 18th hole (par 5), when she was leading by two strokes.

In a broadcast interview, Park Ji-young said, `In the second half, I felt physically tired and my timing started to go wrong. I thought, 'Let's slow down the tempo and hit it slowly', and fortunately, it hit well, so I was able to not lose much batting. The putter was also okay, so there was a good result."

Yewon Hanwha Classic 2024 FR #3 hole move

Park Ji-young, who won two championships at the beginning of the season and topped the prize money and grand prize points, slowed down as she took a month off in the middle of the season due to appendicitis. After three rounds of successful pursuit by two strokes, Park Ji-young said, `Actually, the goal of this tournament was to pass the preliminary round. As I became the things I practiced, I became a little more trusting in the thought that it was okay. I think the final round pin position will be more difficult. Rather than being greedy for rankings, I will do my best to swing and play smartly according to the situation," he said, signaling a recovery in his confidence.

I literally put it into practice. Park Ji-young, who maintained her poker face throughout the game, completed the champion putt with a tap-in birdie on the last hole and smiled brightly with both arms raised. He said, `I feel great to be able to win my 10th championship in Tongsan at the Hanwha Classic, a major competition that I really wanted to win once before retirement. It doesn't feel real, but I hope this dream doesn't break", he expressed his delight.

Hwang Yoo-min Hanwha Classic 2024 FR No. 3 green figure

Yoon In-na Hanwha Classic 2024 FR No. 1 Passave Hole Out

Hwang Yoo-min, who was chasing Park Ji-young, swallowed his regret by missing a short par putt on the 17th hole. He birdied the 18th hole (par 5), recording a 2-under 70 and finishing second with a 10-under 278, three strokes behind Park Ji-young. After The Heaven Masters on the 18th, he was the runner-up in two consecutive tournaments.

Lee Ga-young, Choi Min-kyung and Hong Jung-min tied for third with a final total of 7 under par.

Lee Ye-won, who sought to win the wire-to-wire title, shook to a 5-over 77 on the day and fell to the final sixth place (6-under 282).

Park Hyun-kyung tied for seventh with Kim Sa-romi, Ahn Song-i, Yoo Hyun-jo, Lim Hee-jung, Choi Ye-rim, and Han Jin-sun with a final total of 4-under 284, barely keeping the top spot in the prize money and grand prize points.

Yoon Na-na tied for 19th (2-under 286) with an even-par 72 on the day.

Last year's winner, Kim Soo-ji, was 26th (1 under par 287), and Japan's Erika Hara, who won five games on the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA) Tour, tied for 31st (1 over par 289).

Photo provided = KLPGA Park Joon-seok

hschung@sportschosun.com