A new star born at the High1 Resort Ladies Open 2019

Lim Hee-jeong makes a tee shot during the KLPGA Tour tournament at the High1 Country Club in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, Sunday. /Yonhap

By Kim Jeong-kyoo

A star was born at the High1 Resort Ladies Open 2019, Sunday, as promising rookie Lim Hee-jeong romped to an emphatic 4-stroke victory.

The 18-year-old pulled off the feat at the difficult 6,496-yard High1 Country Club in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, not far from her hometown. The golf course features narrow fairways and undulating greens, calling for accurate tee shots and exceptional putting mettle.

Lim notched her first career KLPGA Tour title in her 17th attempt over eight months, closing the day with a 3-over 75 for an overall 13-under 275.

Her enchanted home fans from Taebaek shared the blissful moment of her maiden triumph at the highest golf course in Korea that commands gorgeous mountain views.

With an outright victory over Park Chae-yoon, the protagonist of the four-act drama received 160 million won in prize money.

The win was the fourth title notched by four different rookies this season.

Entering the final round, Lim was eight strokes clear of her closest rival Kwak Bo-mi and nine strokes ahead of fellow rookie Park Hyun-kyung. Lim hit a flawless 6-under 66, Saturday, after firing 68 and 66 on the previous two days, opening up the colossal lead.

Spectators had no doubt about her “easy” victory although she struggled slightly. No contestants rallied or charged ahead to make up the thumping shortfall, allowing Lim to keep sole control. She remained untouchable during the entire round, sitting high atop the leaderboard.

The chief concern among those watching was how far the chasers could pare down their whopping deficit. Lim was sure to be heading for triumphant victory unless a whole file of disasters bombarded her all at once, leaving most to wonder who would take second place.

Lim got off to a consistent start with a train of five pars before hitting a less-than-good tee shot at the par-3 6th. She pulled her shot left near the fringe, leaving a way long putt. A bogey loomed ahead. But she overcame her first crisis with a great second putt from pretty long range.

Incurring her first bogey on No. 9, Lim played the front nine in 37, making the turn at 15-under with a still ample 7-stroke advantage over Park Chae-yoon.

The bogey looked like it rocked her confidence. She pulled her tee shot left into a deep rough on the par-4 10th, and though she hit the green in two, bogeyed the hole with a horrible three-putt. Lim pulled her putts in a jerking motion, showing the pressure of the final round was getting to her. Now, she found her 8-stroke advantage reduced to six.

However, Lim hit a great approach on the 12th, setting up a chance for an easy birdie. With the birdie she extended her lead.

After a train of three pars, however, she bogeyed the 16th and 17th.

Standing on the 18th tee, she was four shots clear of Park playing a group ahead.

Lim finished the final hole with a par, ending the day at a 3-over 75 to notch a triumphant four-stroke victory.

“I'm happy to notch my first win sooner than I expected,” she said in a post-match interview. “Playing in the final group, I felt great pressure. I had a comfortable lead, starting the day. But after two bogeys in a row, I had to exert my utmost efforts to focus on my shots.”

“I thank my family, especially my mother for her care and sacrifice.”

Park, 25, birdied the second and the seventh to climb to sole second place, eight strokes shy of the lead and two shots ahead of four rivals. After playing the front nine in 34, she charged ahead with a birdie on the 12th to take sole second place. She hit a 3-under 69 for an aggregate score of a 9-under 279.

Park Ju-young, 28, hit a one-under 71, two strokes shy of Park Chae-yoon, taking third.

Kim Hyo-joo, No. 16 in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings had pedestrian rounds of 76-68-71-71, sharing 12th.