(8 November 2010 – Jeju, South Korea)
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South Korea&aposs Hyun-Ji Kim fired a final round of 7-under par 65 to defend her title at the Daishin Securities Tomato M Korea European Ladies Masters on Sunday. Starting the final round four shots adrift of the leaders, the 22-year-old from Incheon fired seven birdies to catapult herself into the winning position. Another two Koreans finished in a tie for second, Soo-Jin Yang and Hee-Kyung Seo.
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rnKim began her chase of the leaders brightly with birdies at both the first and second holes before picking up three more birdies on the 4th, 8th and 9th holes. By that stage, she was just one shot behind the leader, Soo-Jin Yang, KLPGA’s No.2 ranked player.
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rnKim added two further birdies at the 14th and 15th holes to move into the outright lead before pars at the final three holes left her with the clubhouse lead at 8-under par. Yang, who had dropped a shot at the 13th to fall to 7-under could only par her way in over the closing holes. She did however have a birdie putt at the last that slid agonisingly by, averting a playoff for Kim, who won the title last year in that fashion. Seo, who was never really in the hunt for the title finished strongly with birdies at the final two holes to also reach 7-under par, one shot shy of Kim.
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rnAfter the presentation Kim said, “I feel lucky because I thought it could go to a play-off and Soo-Jin Yang is the second ranked played on the Korean LPGA Tour in 2010. I knew it would be very difficult to successfully defend a title but I’m very happy because I did it with my best ever score as a professional.”
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rnThe best-placed LET player was again Lee-Anne Pace, confirming why she is Europe’s No.1 player for the year. Pace finished with a closing round of final round of 66, including four birdies in her last five holes. She is now €62,947 in front of Laura Davies on the Henderson Money List with just two events remaining.
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rnIt wasn’t a particularly good tournament for the ALPG Members, with just Frances Bondad (T53) and Karen Lunn (T63) making the cut.
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rnThe players now move to India for the fourth of the Tour’s Asian Swing; the €225,000 Hero Honda Women’s Indian Open. The ALPG will be represented by Frances Bondad, Clare Choi, Rebecca Coakley, Kate Combes, Rebecca Flood, Stephanie Na and Sarah Nicholson.