Lim Eun-bin notches 7th E1 Charity Open title
Lim Eun-bin poses for a photo call, after she won the 7th E1 Charity Open in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. Yonhap
By Kim Jeong-kyoo
Lim Eun-bin clinched the 7th E1 Charity Open in the dramatic fourth playoff at the 6,514-yard South Springs Country Club in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday.
The win was her first career title she claimed in her 94th appearance over four years.
The 21-year-old Lim made an eagle on the par-4 13th, reeling in two birdies against three bogeys and a double-bogey. She posted a one-over 73 for an overall score of 206 to go into the playoff with Kim Ji-hyun, Lee So-mi and Kim So-yi at 10-under.
In the first playoff on the 18th hole, Lim and Kim Ji-hyun birdied the hole to enter the second playoff. Kim So-yi and Lee So-mi dropped out of the fight.
The two rivals got through the next two duels without incident, scoring pars without much difficulty. Lim strived to claim her first career title; Kim went all-out in her bid to win her second title of 2019 in a row.
And the last player standing after the fourth playoff was Lim.
In the fourth playoff, Lim hit the approach first near the hole, setting up a chance for a birdie. Kim hit her second shot way far from the hole.
Kim made her putt first, leaving her ball short of the hole and creating a chance for an easy par. Lim also missed the par putt, leaving her in a position to put up the fifth playoff.
Unexpectedly enough, however, Kim pulled the short stroke to miss the par putt to the left, handing the trophy to Lim. When Kim missed the short putt, Lim, waiting for Kim to finish her par putt, flinched. The latter looked startled out of her wits.
Entering the final day, Lim trailed a stroke behind the overnight leader Lee So-mi. A flock of her rivals were chasing the overnight leader within striking distance.
A fierce free-for-all was looming ahead. The audience felt an overwhelming sense of deja vu. Sunday's fight was a grueling battle for the crown.
Indeed, no one could predict who would notch the title until Kim missed her par putt on the fourth playoff hole.
Lim struggled all day and did not look like she could triumph. However, she reeled in a birdie on the 12th, making a stunning eagle on the 13th. Still, she could not win the trophy if Lee So-mi had not missed her par putt for the victory.
Missing the makeable par putt on the penultimate hole, Lee had to settle for going into the playoff. She hit a two-over 74 with four birdies against four bogeys and a double-bogey.
Namely, playing in the last group, Lee hooked her shot off the tee near the water. On the steep slope near the water, she hit her second shot to the right of the green to avoid troubles around the green. Then, she failed to get up and down, bogeying the hole to go into a play-off with three others. She made a par in the first playoff hole, dropping out of the battle. She had to settle for second place with Kim Ji-hyun and Kim So-yi.
Kim Ji-hyun, entering the final round, was five shots behind the leader. She reeled in four birdies against a bogey. Standing on the 15th tee, she was part of the four-way lead. She blundered to incur a bogey on the same hole. After getting through the remaining three holes without incident, she ended the day at a four-under 68 with five birdies and a bogey. She entered the playoff as her rivals helped her.
Kim So-yi was three shots adrift of the leader, entering the final round. She hit a one-under 71 with four birdies against a bogey and a double-bogey. She went into the playoff as her two rivals with one- or two-shot advantages faltered over the closing stretch.