Cho rewrites history at Lotte Cantata Ladies Open

Cho Jeong-min reacts after winning the Lotte Cantata Ladies Open at Lotte Skyhill Jeju Country Club, Sunday. / Yonhap

By Kim Jeong-kyu

It was an eventful week for Cho Jeong-min. The 23-year-old romped to victory at the Lotte Cantata Ladies Open after shooting a scintillating 66 at the 6,319-yard Lotte Sky Hill Jeju Country Club, Sunday.

More important, she rewrote the history books of the lowest 54-hole score on the KLPGA Tour by three strokes. On Saturday, she shot a 10-under 62 to shatter the course record by two shots, breaking the record of the lowest 36-hole score.

Nothing could stop the aggressive and determined Cho as she shot rounds of 65-62-66 to finish the event six strokes clear of the runner-up Choi Min-kyung.

In the early part of the round, however, her path to achieve the rare feat and become the champion was bumpy. While she was struggling with less-than-solid shots, Choi made birdies on the third and 7th holes to pull up even with her. Choi stepped up valiantly to put pressure on Cho.

Choi's two birdies unleashed tight tension into the duel between Cho and Choi, turning the battle into a more gripping fight. The birdies would have put significant pressure on Cho.

Despite her mediocre play and Choi's constant threat in the early stage of the round, Cho was competent enough to hold off Choi's serious challenge. After all, with her impressive mettle on the back nine, Cho cruised to her first victory this season, clinching her third career title.

After nearly a two-year absence, Cho returned to stand in the winner's circle and received 120 million won in prize money.

The gallery found the event riveting.

Unlike Saturday, Cho got off to a pedestrian start with six consecutive pars. Then, she bogeyed the 7th, leaving her fans worrying about her faltering to keep committing errors. With the bogey, Cho was only two shots clear of Choi, her closest rival.

Spectators felt an uneasy sense of foreboding looming large. It was time to re-arrange expectations for Cho. Under pressure to win, Cho was swinging a touch too fast.

However, Cho bounced back from her nervy start with a birdie on the 8th. The birdie helped her get her swing back on track. She began to swing rhythmically at her natural pace. Finally, she made her battleship cruise as usual.

Cho wowed the crowd with her stunning play especially on the 16th. Spectators could not believe their eyes when she hit a blind fairway bunker shot impeccably before leaving the hole behind with a memorable birdie. When she found the fairway trap off the tee, spectators thought she was done for.

Her drive to the title looked like preordained destiny unfolding on the par-5 15th. She caught a lucky break every champion needs. Cho looked like she hit her tee shot into the hazard. Luckily for her, however, she found her ball resting in the deep rough near the edge of the hazard. Making her second shot without difficulty, she hit her third shot near the hole, setting up a chance for a birdie.

After the birdie, Cho stood a safe distance from Choi with a four-shot lead, and the riveting match seemed over.

After getting through the 17th without incident, Cho hit the green with her second shot on the par-5 18th, setting up a potential eagle. She blissfully left the penultimate hole with a good birdie.

Asked about her having rewritten the record books, she said with an avalanche of joy, “I'm just dazed.” “I believe patience and hard work pay off,” she added.

Cho, born in Taegu, first picked up a golf club when she went to New Zealand at the age of nine. She played for New Zealand for two years. She is active and socializes, and likes to spend time with friends. Cho has a simple, powerful golf swing easy to repeat.

Choi Min-kyung still had a chance to erase a three-stroke deficit to Cho starting the day. And she looked poised to threaten Cho for the lead after finishing the 9th hole with three birdies. But she could not make further progress, allowing Cho to romp home with a fairly lopsided victory. Choi settled for second place after signing for a three-under 69 with four birdies against one bogey for an overall score of 19-under 199.

The defending champion Kim Ji-young2 had to be content with third place.