By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Teenage golfer Ryu So-yeon won the Orient-China Ladies Open, the KLPGA's 2010 season opener, Saturday in China.
Ryu fired a 2-under 70 in the final round to tie Seo Hee-kyung for a 5-under 211 total before defeating the 2009 player of the year in a playoff at the Orient Golf and Country Club in Xiamen.
Ryu, 19, and Seo, 23, battled during the 2009 season with Seo edging out Ryu for most wins ― five to four; money _ 663.76 million won to 597.86 million; and the point-based player of the year award ― 321 to 213.
The KLPGA has been opening its season in December since 2006 in order to ensure that the end of the year ceremonies can take place in early December of the following year.
``It was a pity that I failed to crack five wins, which was my preseason goal, in 2009,'' Ryu said.
``Although this title is counted for the 2010 season, I am happy to close out the year with five trophies and it bodes well for next season.''
Ryu, who entered the final day two shots off the lead, climbed to the top of the leaderboard at the turn with a birdie, while second-round leader Seo was plagued by three consecutive bogeys between Nos. 4 and 6.
However, Seo, whose eight of 11 career crowns were final round come-from-behind wins, began her surge with a birdie on the first hole of the back nine and sank an eight-meter birdie putt at No. 12 to tie for the lead.
Ryu went ahead again on the 13th hole, but a 10-meter-birdie putt from Seo on the 17th, evened the match.
Both picked up a bogey and a par, respectively, on the first two holes of the playoff, but Ryo parred, while Seo had a disastrous triple bogey in the third round.
``It was the first playoff in my career and I think it was a good experience,'' Seo said.
``The runner-up finish will motivate me to train better for the 2010 season.''
Lee Jung-eun tied for third at 214 and Taiwan's Tseng Ya-ni, the 2008 LPGA rookie of the year, finished tied for sixth with an even-par.