Choi Ye-rim shakes off nine runner-up finishes to claim first KLPGA Tour title

Choi Ye-rim has finally broken through for her first KLPGA Tour victory, ending a run of nine runner-up finishes.

Choi carded a 1-under 71 in the final round of the OK Savings Bank Utman Open — purse 1 billion won ($736,000) — at Adonis Country Club (par 72) in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, posting three birdies against one bogey.

Her 54-hole total of 10-under 206 was enough to hold off late-charging Im Hee-jeong, who finished at 9-under 207, by one stroke. Choi, who made her regular-tour debut in 2018, claimed the title in her 239th start and earned a winner's check of 180 million won.

Entering the final round with a three-stroke lead, Choi was sharp from the start, missing just one green in regulation over the front nine and converting three birdies. A birdie putt from 3.5 meters on the par-5 9th hole stretched her advantage to six strokes over the chasing pack.

Im mounted a serious challenge on the back nine as Choi went quiet with a string of pars. Im, who had picked up three strokes on the front nine, added three more birdies through the 15th hole to pile on the pressure. A bogey by Choi on the par-4 14th suddenly cut the gap to two strokes. After Im failed to convert a birdie putt on the par-4 18th and finished her round, Choi dropped another stroke on the 16th hole but steadied herself to close with a two-putt par on 18 and seal the win.

Choi had most recently been denied at the McColl·Mona Yongpyong Open in June, losing in a playoff to Kim Min-sol, but she made no mistake this time.

The victory vaulted Choi to third on the season money list and third in the Player of the Year points standings, shaking up what had been shaping up as a two-horse race between Seo Gyo-rim and Kim Min-sol.

"I was very nervous because I've let wins slip away before, but I tried not to think about the gap and just focused on my own game," Choi said.

Kim Min-sol, who has three wins this season, fired a final-round 4-under 68 to finish alone in third at 8-under 208, reclaiming the top spot on the season money list from Seo Gyo-rim, who did not compete in the event.