Before the tournament, Park Gyeol's prize money ranking stood at exactly 100th. After tying for 31st at The Siena Open, her first event of the year, she missed the cut in four consecutive tournaments, leaving her with just 8.3 million won in earnings.
Since joining the KLPGA Tour in 2015, Park had fallen outside the top 60 only once — in 2021, when she finished 69th on the money list and was forced to compete in the qualifying tournament. Even then, she survived Q-school and managed to keep her tour card for 12 straight years. But this season had again pushed her into a deep crisis.
At the 18th Doosan Match Play, which concluded Sunday at the Nature and Garden Course (par 72) of Ladena Golf Club in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, Park lost to Choi Eun-woo in the semifinals and was beaten by Hong Jin-young II in the third-place playoff, finishing fourth. While the result may have left some regrets, Park collected 60 million won in prize money and jumped 63 spots on the money list to 37th, with 68.3 million won.
Park was not alone. The Doosan Match Play's conclusion sent the money rankings into upheaval, with the swings amplified by the fact that most of the semifinalists were unexpected names.
Bang Shin-sil, who defeated Choi Eun-woo in the final to claim the title and 250 million won in prize money, climbed 12 places from 15th to third on the money list, with 363.11 million won. The gap among the top three is now razor thin: leader Lee Ye-won has earned 375.73 million won, followed by Kim Min-sol at 369.71 million won. The difference between first and second is just 6.02 million won, and between second and third only 6.6 million won.
Hong Jin-young II, who edged out Park Gyeol for third place, added 90 million won to her earnings and climbed from 48th to 15th, with 136.29 million won.
Choi Eun-woo, who had been three holes up with four to play before suffering a stunning collapse, settled for a runner-up finish that came with 135 million won. She surged from 31st to 11th on the money list, with 203.38 million won.
