'First to achieve multiple wins' terrifying rookie, 'Korean Women's Open champion' Kim Min-sol: "Aiming for world champion status, targeting a clean sweep of all awards this year"

*This content was translated by AI.

'Monster rookie' is not enough to describe her. Kim Min-sol (20, Doosan Construction) climbed to the top of the Korean Women's Open, achieving the season's first multiple wins.

On the 14th, in the final fourth round of the 40th Korean Women's Open Golf Championship, a KGA National Title sponsored by Mercedes-Benz held at the Mountain Trail and Forest Trail course (par 71) at Lakewood Country Club in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, Kim Min-sol recorded a 1-under-par 70 with two birdies and one bogey.

Finishing with a total of 4-under-par 280, Kim Min-sol edged out high school student Yang Yun-seo (18, Incheon Girls' High School Affiliated Open High School), who finished at 183-under-par 281, by one stroke to become the champion of the 40th Korean Women's Open.

Kim Min-sol received the tournament's first-place prize of 400 million won, along with a Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 4MATIC vehicle as a bonus prize. The vehicle is sold for over 100 million won. She also secured entry rights to the AIG Women's Open, a major on the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf (LPGA) Tour, and the Japanese Women's Open, a 'National Title' tournament in Japan.

This marks her second win of the season, following her victory at the iM Financial Open in April. In the 11th KLPGA Tour events held this season, all winners were different players, but Kim Min-sol became the first to achieve two wins with her victory in this tournament.

Kim Min-sol, who maintained an overwhelming first place in the prize money rankings with 776.31999 million won, also added 100 points to the Welcome Savings Bank Target Points, recording a total of 243 points and jumping two spots to claim first place.

Kim Min-sol, who debuted on the KLPGA Tour in the middle of last season, recorded two wins in 15 tournaments but did not meet the rookie award criteria, making her eligible for the Shin In-sang (수상) award this season. She also secured an undisputed first place in the rookie award points with 1,148 points.

While most players recorded over-par scores on the difficult course, Kim Min-sol was different. Starting in a tie for the lead with Yang Yun-seo, she birdied the 2nd hole (par 3) and then held par through the 14th hole.

In contrast, Yang Yun-seo made a bogey with a three-putt on the 2nd hole (par 3) but bounced back with a birdie on the 3rd hole (par 4). However, she made another three-putt bogey on the 4th hole (par 4), losing another stroke. She then reduced her score by one stroke each on the 6th hole (par 4) and the 9th hole (par 4), tying with Kim Min-sol.

On the 10th hole (par 4), the first hole of the back nine, she failed to get her second shot onto the green and made another bogey. She also lost strokes on the 14th hole (par 4) with a disappointing second shot. Kim Min-sol sank a 6-meter birdie putt on the 15th hole (par 4), moving one step closer to victory. Kim Min-sol, who was one step closer to winning, saw Yang Yun-seo birdie the 17th hole (par 3). Entering the 18th hole (par 4) with a two-stroke lead, Kim Min-sol's second shot landed in a bunker near the green, but she escaped in one shot and held par to secure the win.

According to the KGA, after the win, Kim Min-sol said, "The Korean Women's Open is a tournament organized by the KGA, which has given me a lot of help since my days as a national team member, so I wanted to express my gratitude with this victory. I am happy to be able to express it." She added, "The tournament venue was beautifully decorated. Mercedes-Benz made it beautifully decorated, so it was a tournament I was grateful for as a player. Although I don't have a driver's license, I want to drive the car I received for winning."

Kim Min-sol continued, "I went to the U.S. Women's Open last week. There were many holes where I shouldn't have hit the flagstick. That experience was helpful. The caddie also helped. When I wanted to see the flagstick, he told me not to." The caddie who worked with Kim Min-sol also secured a one-year lease right for the GLE 450 4MATIC vehicle.

She harbors grand dreams. Kim Min-sol said, "My goal is to reach the top of the world. The AIG Women's Open is considered a tournament with a different course. I haven't decided whether to participate, but if I do, I think I need to prepare well. My goal this year is to win the rookie award, the target award, and achieve a clean sweep of all KLPGA Tour awards."

Yang Yun-seo received 1.3 million won as the prize for the top amateur.

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*This content was translated by AI.