Lee Ye-won (23, Medihill), a fifth-year player on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, has reached the 10-win milestone.
Lee carded a 4-under-par 68 with six birdies and two bogeys in the third round of the Duksin EPC Championship (total prize money 1 billion won) held at Evendale GC (par 72) in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, on Sunday. With a final total of 12-under-par 204, she claimed the title by three strokes over Park Hyun-kyung (9-under).
The victory was her first of the season and the 16th instance of a player reaching 10 career wins in KLPGA Tour history. After winning Rookie of the Year in 2022 without a victory, Lee picked up three wins in each of the following three years through last season, and reached double-digit career wins in her fifth event of this season. Known as the "Queen of Spring" for having captured seven of her previous nine titles before the end of May, she secured her first win of the year early again, giving her a comfortable cushion to manage the rest of the season.
Lee, who had surged from a tie for 40th to a share of the lead after shaving seven strokes off her score in the second round the previous day, made a bogey on the par-3 third hole with a three-putt but seized control of the tournament by rolling in four birdies through the 11th hole. Collecting the 180 million won winner's check, she jumped from sixth on the season's money list to first with 353.07 million won.
"Reaching 10 career wins came a bit faster than I expected," Lee said after the round. "I like spring, but this season I want to play well in the fall too, win a major, and post at least three victories."
Yoo Hyun-jo and three others tied for third at 8-under. Co-leader Kim Jae-hee, who started the day on top, dropped one stroke to finish tied for seventh at 7-under alongside Park Min-ji and Bang Shin-sil.
Before Lee, the late Ku Ok-hee, Jung Kil-ja, Ko Woo-soon, Kang Chun-ja, Kim Mi-hyun, Shin Ji-yai, Seo Hee-kyung, Park Sung-hyun, Jang Ha-na, Ko Jin-young, Kim Hyo-joo, Ryu So-yeon, Park Min-ji, Lee Jung-min and Park Ji-young had each recorded 10 or more career wins on the KLPGA Tour.
