'Hangzhou AG Silver Medalist' Im Ji-yu Wins First Dream Tour Title: "Proud to Prove My Skills Have Improved"

*This content was translated by AI.

National team member Im Ji-yu (21), who won a silver medal in the team event as part of the Yeo Ja-gol-peu (CEO) team at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, swung her club powerfully to claim her first career victory trophy.

Im Ji-yu secured the win at the KLPGA 2026 East One·Ocean Beach Dream Tour 14th event (total prize money: 70 million won; winner's prize: 10.5 million won) held at Ocean Beach Golf & Resort in Yeongdeok, Gyeongsangbuk-do (par 72).

Im Ji-yu shot a 9-under-par 63 in the first round and a 6-under-par 66 in the final round, finishing with a total of 15-under-par 129 to win by a staggering six strokes over the second-place group. Choi Hye-won (23) finished tied for second with a total of 9-under-par 135 (67-68), alongside Hong Su-min (19, KB Financial Group).

According to the KLPGA, Im Ji-yu stated, "This is my first win after going through a difficult period following my regular tour debut in 2024, so it feels even more precious and joyful. It feels like my sweat and efforts have been rewarded." She added, "Before today's round, I told myself to be satisfied that I had broken my personal best score from the first round and to focus on proving my skills have improved. I am happy to show that I am not standing still but moving forward little by little."

A six-stroke victory margin in a 36-hole Dream Tour event has not occurred since Choi Min-kyung (33, Hyumons) won the 2012 Dream Tour 14th event by that margin — 14 years later. The record for the largest winning margin in a 36-hole Dream Tour event is 10 strokes, achieved by Kim Jin-hyun (41) at the 2004 Dream Tour 2nd event.

Im Ji-yu, who dominated various tournaments during her amateur days and served as a national team member from 2022 to 2023, debuted as a 2024 regular tour rookie after finishing 10th in the KLPGA 2024 Regular Tour Seed Ranking Main Event. After moving to the Dream Tour, Im Ji-yu added to her prize money with this 14th event victory, igniting the race for seed status in the 2027 season — her ultimate goal for this year.

The winner of the previous KLPGA 2026 East One·Ocean Beach Dream Tour 12th event, Sung Ah-jin (19, Hite Jinro), finished with a total of 8-under-par 136, forming a tied fourth-place group alongside Jeon Seung-hee, Shin Yu-jin, Hwang Yeon-seo, Song Ji-yoon, and Kim So-dam.

With this tournament victory adding 10.5 million won to her earnings, Im Ji-yu now has cumulative prize money of 17.3086 million won, jumping to 20th place in the prize money standings. Jeong Ji-hyo did not participate in this event but maintained the top spot in the prize money standings with cumulative earnings of 35.763 million won.

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*This content was translated by AI.