Park Hyun-kyung (26, Medihealp), a leading star of the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, has conquered Japan's richest prize-money tournament.
Park shot 4-under in the final round of the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (JLPGA) Tour's Earth Mondamin Cup, played Sunday at Camellia Hills Country Club (par 72) in Chiba, Japan, with five birdies and one bogey. Her total of 12-under 276 beat the second-place group of Japan's Misuzu Kobayashi and Nanako Inagaki by one stroke.
The Earth Mondamin Cup raised its prize money by 100 million yen from last year, making it a tournament with a total purse of 400 million yen (about 3.8 billion won). It is the largest prize money in the history of Japan's men's and women's professional golf tours combined. The winner's prize reached 72 million yen (about 680 million won). That 680 million won is more than double the 303 million won Park earned from 12 events on this year's KLPGA Tour, her main stage. Park, with eight career KLPGA Tour victories, had recorded no wins this year, with two runner-up finishes as her best results. Park, who frequently competes in Japanese events, had planned to enter this Earth Mondamin Cup since before the season. She claimed victory in only her fourth JLPGA Tour appearance.
Korean players stood out, with Shin Ji-yai finishing fourth at 10-under, Park Min-ji tied for fifth at 9-under, and Ko Ji-won tied for ninth at 7-under. Notably, apart from Shin Ji-yai, all three KLPGA Tour players who entered on sponsor invitations finished in the top 10, drawing attention.
The tournament was repeatedly postponed due to a typhoon, and the remaining third-round play and the 18 holes of the fourth round were held consecutively on the day. Park started the fourth round as co-leader, took the sole lead with a birdie on the 14th hole (par 5), and seized the victory by sinking a 3-meter par putt on the 17th hole (par 4).
Park, who lost her grandmother during a KLPGA Tour event on the 20th of this month, achieved a meaningful victory dedicated to her grandmother in this tournament, where she competed alongside her father and caddie, Park Se-soo.
