Lee Jeong-eun becomes emotional after winning KLPGA title
Lee Jeong-eun celebrates her first crown this season at the Hanwha Classic. Sunday. / Yonhap
By Kim Jeong-kyu
At last, Lee Jeong-eun has ended her title drought. Lee won her first crown this season at the Hanwha Classic 2018. She shot a 3-under 69, Sunday, for an overall score of a 13-under 275. Given her beautiful swing and cool nerves, she deserved to capture the title.
Lee stayed poised and calm throughout the round while the overnight leader Lee So-young self-destructed. Other contenders did not have enough firepower to catch her.
Spectators foresaw a close head-to-head battle between the two Lees. But the champion did not put up a tight race for an inexorable stroll to her first win this season. It was also her first major title and her 5th career victory.
The 22-year-old picked up five birdies against two bogeys on the tough 6,757-yard par-72 Jade Palace Golf Club in Choonchun, Kangwon Province. Despite the two bogeys, she cruised to a four-stroke victory, carrying out her usual fluid, graceful swing. (I predicted in my Aug. 8 column that her recent title drought would end soon because of her great swing.)
Lee received 350 million won in prize money.
Starting the final round, Lee was at 10-under and one shot behind the overnight leader. Trailing her within four strokes were Lim Hee-jung, Cho Jeong-min and Lee Seung-hyun.
Playing in the final group with Lee So-young and Lim, Lee got off to a decent start with a par on the first hole.
On the second hole, she chipped in her third shot for a birdie, setting the tone for the day. Lee got a break early, which every champion needs. The birdie, for sure, spurred her on to victory.
With the surprising birdie, she pulled up even with the overnight leader, who'd started the first hole with a birdie. Then, she quickly birdied the fourth hole to pull ahead of her closest rival, Lee Seung-hyun, who bogeyed the hole.
Now, she was leading the field by two strokes. Afterwards, she never saw her lead evaporate. She continued to stay at least three strokes clear of her rivals till the end of the day.
On the par-3 fifth hole, Lee extended her lead over Lee So-young by three strokes without doing much on her own. Lee So-young bogeyed the hole. She looked like she lost her rhythm and tempo just a fraction.
Lee played steady golf with hardly any blunders, banging tee shots down the fairway. Indeed, no player could expect an easy par once she pushes or pulls her tee shot into the deep rough.
Reaching the turn at a 12-under, Lee was four shots clear of her nearest rivals, Lee So-young and Lee Seung-hyun at 8-under.
Lee pulled away again with birdies on the 10th and 11th holes, romping to victory. Now she was leading by six shots, putting her almost at a safe distance from the contenders.
Lee allowed her par train to derail when she missed a short putt on the 13th hole. She had a little lapse of concentration. Probably, the thought of her victory had distracted her.
With three holes to play, Lee was at 13-under and five shots clear of her nearest rivals, Oh Ji-hyun and Bae Seon-woo at 8-under.
Incurring another bogey on the 17th hole, Lee headed for the final hole. She was at 12-under and three shots ahead of her closest contender Bae Seon-woo.
Successfully hitting her tee shot, she walked confidently up the par-5 18th fairway. She first showed a subtle smile of relief after hitting her third stroke near the hole.
No sooner had she finished her birdie putt, she was close to tears. Shortly afterwards, tears began to roll down her face, unable to fight them back.
During the post-round interview, her voice trembled with emotion. She remained choked, talking about the distress and pain she had experienced for some time. With deep sincerity, she thanked her fans and backers for their cheer and support.
On her way to finishing alone in second place, Bae Seon-woo closed with a bogey-free 5-under 67. The defending champion Oh Ji-hyun shared third place with S Lee.