Im Sung-jae wins 2023 Woori Financial Group Championship

Im Sung-jae hits a shot during the Woori Financial Group Championship at Ferrum Club in Yeoju, Gyeonggi on Sunday. [YONHAP]

Im Sung-jae won the 2023 Woori Financial Group Championship on Sunday, claiming his second KPGA title and 300 million won ($223,000) in prize money at Ferrum Club in Yeoju, Gyeonggi.

Im jetted in to Korea last week to compete in his first KPGA event since the Genesis Championship in October of 2019, where he also won the trophy. The PGA golfer had intended to compete in the inaugural Woori Championship last year, but was unable to take part after testing positive for Covid-19.

Im made two bogeys in the last round of this year's Woori Championship on Sunday, but still managed a four-under-par, 68, with one eagle and four birdies for a final score of 10-under-par, 278.

The 25-year-old was tied for fourth on moving day, but shone on the final six holes of the last round, carding an eagle on the 12th hole and making a birdie on the 13th hole, before managing a winning birdie on the 18th hole.

“It did not really go well overall in the morning,” Im said after the event. “When I looked at the leaderboard after completing half of today’s round, Juneseok Lee was leading, but the margin of strokes was small, so I focused harder.

“I think I got the best momentum on the 12th hole where I carded an eagle, and I think that led to victory in the end.”

Juneseok Lee of Australia competed with Im until the very last hole, but narrowly missed the title at the event hosted by his main sponsor Woori Financial Group by just a margin of one stroke, coming in second place.

Defending and inaugural champion Chang Hee-min, on the other hand, tied for 27th.

Im will now look to ride that winning momentum at the PGA Championship — one of four major PGA events — that tees off in Rochester, New York on Thursday.

He will return to the United States on Monday.

Meanwhile, the KPGA tour schedule will continue as the SK Telecom Open starts at Pinx Golf Club in Jeju also on Thursday.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]