Seo Gyo-rim beats rival Kim Min-sol in playoff for first major title, fourth win of season

Seo Gyo-rim claimed her first major title Sunday, defeating same-age rival Kim Min-sol in a playoff at the BC Card·Hankyung 48th KLPGA Championship — the second major of the KLPGA Tour season — which carried a purse of 1.5 billion won ($1.08 million).

Playing under clear skies at Pocheon Hills Country Club's Garden-Palace Course (par 72) in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, Seo finished the final round with two birdies and four bogeys for a 2-over 74, leaving her at 8-under 280 — level with Kim, who carded a 1-under round. The two headed to a playoff at the par-5 18th hole, where Seo made birdie to seal the victory.

In the playoff, Seo pushed her tee shot into the rough, but her third shot from 81 meters stopped 70 centimeters from the pin, setting up a birdie. Kim, who had found the fairway off the tee, could not convert a 1.2-meter birdie putt.

The win gave Seo back-to-back victories. The previous week, she stormed to a final-round 8-under 64 at the Mediheal·Korea Ilbo Championship to overturn a deficit and beat Kim in a come-from-behind win. She is now the first player on tour to reach four wins this season.

Seo collected the winner's check of 270 million won, lifting her season earnings to 1,286.76 million won and pushing her past Kim — who had led the money list at 1,286.62 million won — into first place. She also leads the Player of the Year points standings (490 points) and stroke average (70.2974), putting her in position to sweep all individual titles this season.

Seo had entered the final round with a three-stroke lead, but four bogeys through the 10th hole allowed Kim to take over at the top. Seo steadied herself with a birdie at the par-3 16th, sticking her tee shot to within three meters of the pin. At the par-5 18th, she reached the green in two but two-putted from six meters for birdie, dramatically forcing a playoff.

Kim had taken the lead with a birdie at the par-4 eighth, but a three-putt bogey at the 12th and a missed two-meter par putt at the 16th — the same hole where Seo made birdie — allowed Seo to draw level. Kim did birdie the 18th from 70 centimeters to join the playoff, but had to settle for runner-up.

Park Min-ji, chasing her 21st career title, shot a 3-under final round to finish at 7-under 281 and take sole third place. Moon Jung-min and Ko Ji-woo shared fourth at 6-under 282.