'Super rookie' Kim Min-sol (20, Doosan Engineering & Construction) needed just three tournaments to secure her first win of the season.
Kim shot a 1-under-par 71 in the final round of the KLPGA Tour iM Financial Open (total purse 1 billion won) at Golfzon County Seonsan (par 72) in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province on Saturday, finishing at 11-under-par 277 to claim the title.
This marks the first victory of the season and third career win for the former national team member known for her long drives. After winning twice on the second-tier tour last season, Kim made her regular tour debut in the second half of the year and lifted trophies in August and October. Under tour regulations, this year officially marks her rookie season. Having finished tied for 20th and tied for 53rd in the two previous tournaments this year, Kim secured her first win of the season in just her third start. With a wire-to-wire victory and a dominant 4-stroke margin, she has already jumped to first place in rookie of the year points. The winner's purse was 180 million won.
Starting the day with a 2-stroke lead, Kim reduced two more strokes through the seventh hole, extending her advantage to six shots over the field and cruising ahead. On the 11th hole (par 4), her tee shot landed behind a tree planted in the fairway, resulting in a three-on, three-putt double bogey that cut her lead to three strokes. However, she displayed nerves of steel on the following 12th hole (par 4), responding to Kim Si-hyun's birdie with one of her own. Kim parred all remaining holes to clinch the victory without further drama.
Kim Si-hyun, Jeon Ye-seong, and An Ji-hyun finished tied for second at 7-under-par, while Ko Jin-young, who won the Siena Open last week, finished tied for sixth at 4-under-par alongside Bang Sin-sil, Lee Ye-won, Song Eun-ah, and Kim Min-sun.