(4 June 2012 – Miyota, Nagano Prefecture, Japan)
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South Korea&aposs Mi-Jeong Jeon continued her amazing start to the season picking up a long-overdue first victory in 2012 with a three shot victory at the Resort Trust Ladies in Nagano. Jeon’s compatriot Ji-Hee Lee was second while Japan’s Mihoko Iseri was a further shot back in outright third.
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Jeon headed to the first tee on the final day with a one shot buffer over Lee, while Bo-Bae Song and Iseri were just two back of the leader. Lee and Song went backwards on the outward nine, while Jeon and Iseri remained on their overnight scores after nine holes. This meant Jeon now had a two shot cushion with nine holes to play.
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She was always going to be tough to beat and three birdies in five holes (as well as a bogey) meant Jeon led by three shots with three holes to play. Lee had struggled to find any birdies, eventually getting one at the 12th to get back to even for the day. She posted another at the 17th to secure the runners-up cheque. Iseri had to settle for third after a bogey at her final hole.
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However, it was all Jeon, who added another birdie at the 17th hole to move to 14-under par. She was able to walk up the last comfortable in the knowledge she held a three shot lead over playing partner Lee. She made a regulation par to salute the crowd and collect the ¥12,600,000 winner’s cheque (approx AUD$166,000). It is the third time she has won this tournament, following on from victories in 2008 and 2009.
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It has been a remarkable start to the season for Jeon who currently leads the Money List with ¥50,627,166 in season earnings (approx. AUD$667,884). In eleven starts, she has finished in the Top-6 a remarkable ten times but only has the one victory. It is her 8th season on the LPGA of Japan and after her rookie season where she finished 12th on the money list, Jeon has not finished worse than 6th at season’s end. She is chasing her first Money Queen title this year. She has 18 career victories and sits 10th on the all-time career money list.
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Nikki Campbell was the only Australian in the field and unfortunately failed to make the cut after rounds of 73 and 74.