With such a commanding lead, the interest lay not in "who" would win but "how." The fearsome firepower that had produced 24-under over the previous three days went cold, but it did nothing to derail the "birdie bomber's" victory.
Ko Ji-woo (24, Samchully) claimed the joy of her first win of the season at the Korea Ladies Professional Golf (KLPGA) Tour's High1 Resort Women's Open (total purse 1 billion won). On the 12th, in the fourth round held at High1 CC (par 73) in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, Ko shot a 2-over 75 with two bogeys and no birdies. Finishing at a total of 22-under 270, she topped the field, edging out co-runners-up Park Hye-jun and Sung Yu-jin (both 17-under) by five strokes.
Ko, who tied for first on the opening day and held the sole lead from the second round onward, sealed her first win of the season and fourth career title wire-to-wire. With just two ties for fifth as her only top-10 finishes this season, she added the 180 million won winner's prize in the final tournament of the first half, vaulting her prize-money ranking from 44th to 16th (296.88 million won).
Starting with an eight-stroke lead, Ko appeared to lose focus, carding bogeys on the 2nd (par 4) and 4th holes (par 5). She struggled to make up strokes afterward, stringing together 14 consecutive pars. But thanks to her wide lead, no threatening pursuers emerged. Park Hye-jun and Sung Yu-jin, who each cut four strokes on the day, tied for second, while Choi Ye-rim and Seo Eo-jin tied for fourth (16-under).
Ko, a native of Jeju Island, extended a remarkable record of taking all four of her career wins in Gangwon Province, in four consecutive years. She won the McCol·Mona Yongpyong Open in 2023 and 2025, and the High1 Resort Women's Open in 2024 and this year. She also authored a "sisters' wire-to-wire victory" record. Her younger sister Ko Ji-won (22) claimed her first win of the season at the The Siena Open in April after leading for four straight days.
Ko, who grabbed 24 birdies over the first three rounds but recorded none on the final day, said, "I realized once again that this is really what life is like, that golf doesn't go the way you want." Asked why she is so strong in Gangwon Province, she replied, "I find it really strange myself."
Bang Shin-sil, the winner of this event last year, finished tied for 29th (8-under), while prize-money leader Kim Min-sol ended tied for 34th (7-under).
