Bae Kyung-eun claims first Champions Tour title after 21-year wait

Bae Kyung-eun has won the EastOne·Ocean Beach Champions Tour third event, which carried a purse of 70 million won ($50,000).

Playing the final round Wednesday at Ocean Beach Golf & Resort's Ocean-Beach Course (par 72, 5,962 yards) in Yeongdeok, North Gyeongsang Province, Bae fired a 4-under-par 68 to finish at 9-under 135, edging runner-up Lee Silbia (41) by one stroke. The victory is Bae's first on the Champions Tour, and her winner's share comes to 10.5 million won.

"It's been so long since I last won that I feel both dazed and happy," Bae said. "My putting wasn't working early on, but I managed to stay patient and keep my rhythm — that's what got me the win. It makes it even more special that the victory came at a time when I've fallen in love with golf again."

Bae turned professional at 15 and the following year, in 2001, became the youngest winner of the Shinsegae Cup 23rd KLPGA Championship, a KLPGA Tour major. She stepped away from the tour after finishing 66th on the money list in the 2014 season, but remained active in the sport as a media professional through course commentary and teaching programs.

She made a surprise return to the KLPGA regular tour for the 2021 season after finishing 31st in the qualifying event, drawing considerable attention. Having moved to the Champions Tour last year, Bae lifted a winner's trophy again for the first time in 21 years.

"There is still so much to learn in golf, and every day feels new," she said. "Every moment on the Champions Tour, where I can enjoy golf purely on my own terms, is truly precious. Now that I've broken through with my first win, I want to add two more victories in the remaining season and go after the Champions Tour's inaugural money title."