Cho A-yean wins second KLPGA title of the season

Golf

Published: 24 Jul. 2022, 18:14 Updated: 24 Jul. 2022, 18:46

Cho A-yean wins second KLPGA title of the season

Cho A-yean poses for a picture after winning the Hoban Seoul Shinmun Women's classic at H1 Club in Icheon, Gyeonggi on Sunday. [KLPGA]

Cho A-yean came back from behind to win her second KLPGA title of the season at the Hoban Seoul Shinmun Women's classic on Sunday.

Being a three-day, 54 hole event, Cho carded a 12-under-par, 204 to win the title two strokes ahead of Ha Min-song and Hwang Jeong-mee who tied for second carding 10-under-par, 206.

Cho started the first round with six birdies and one bogey, tying for third place. It was Lee Je-yeong who had played the best in the opening round, smashing through the first day with 10 birdies and one bogey to top the scoreboard.

Lee kept the lead into the second day but was unable to repeat her clutch performance, carding three birdies and two bogies while Cho stepped up to a tied second place carding four birdies and one bogey.

In the first nine on Sunday, the fight for top position was close, with Cho, Lee, Choi Ka-ram and Ryu Hae-ran finding three birdies and one bogey, Han Jin-seon and Park Ji-young finding three birdies, Hwang carding four birdies and one bogey and Ji Han-sol carding four birdies.

But in the second nine, Lee’s hopes of winning her first-ever KLPGA title were dashed after she carded three bogies to earn a total score of nine-under-par, 207 and dropped down to a tied fourth position with Ji and Han who both carded two bogies second nine.

Hwang was unable to find more than one birdie in the second half, while Ha found her form adding three more birdies to her two birdies in the first half. However, her bogeyless final round wasn’t enough to overturn the results as she finished tied for second place marking her second runner-up finish this season.

In the end, it was Cho who emerged victorious. She found her first birdie in the fourth hole, slipped in the fifth bogeying the par-3 but bounced back with three consecutive birdies in the eighth, ninth and 10th hole, starting her comeback.

Adding another birdie in the par-3, 14th, Cho bogied the par-5 16th but bounced back with a birdie in the second to last hole. Cho parred the last hole to win the trophy.

This is Cho’s fourth career title, since debuting on the KLPGA Tour in 2019. After winning double titles in her first year on the top-tier tour, Cho was named Rookie of the Year.

“I think I had more fun than felt nervous today,” said Cho after the match on Sunday.

"My caddie really helped me keep a level head. I also didn't really feel the pressure that I needed to win this title and I think that mindset helped too."

Cho A-yean tees off on the 17th hole during the Hoban Seoul Shinmun Women's classic at H1 Club in Incheon, Gyeonggi on Sunday. [KLPGA]

After coming back from behind to win the Hoban Seoul Shinmun Women's classic on Sunday, now three out of her four titles were won after a comeback.

“I think that birdying the 17th hole was what gave me the confidence to think that I could win this title,” said Cho.

“I actually had thought that my 17th tee shot was better than it was but when I had reached the green I saw that the ball had dropped short. At that moment, my caddie told me that it doesn’t matter and that I can just putt it in. That gave me confidence."

As she missed out on winning a trophy in 2020 and 2021 when fans were not allowed onto the golf course due to Covid-19, all four of Cho's titles were won with the presence of her fans in the gallery.

"I think I am a player who can only win with the presence of my fans," said Cho.

"I think ninety percent of my wins are thanks to my fans and I want to thank them for coming out every time to cheer for me and applaud every shot."

BY YUN SO-HYANG [yun.sohyang@joongang.co.kr]