Bae Seon-woo finishes second at LPGA TOTO Japan Classic

Bae Seon-woo [KLPGA]

Bae Seon-woo finished as a joint runner-up at the LPGA TOTO Japan Classic on Sunday with a 21-under-par, 267, one stroke behind winner Mone Inami of Japan.

The TOTO Japan Classic — co-sanctioned by both the LPGA and JLPGA — at Taiheiyo Club Minori Course in Omitama, Japan, saw multiple Japanese golfers in the top 10 standings on the last day.

Bae and Shin Ji-yai, the only two Korean golfers in the top 10, displayed an outstanding performance during the final round, raising hopes for a potential title win.

Bae, who competes on the JLPGA Tour, competed fiercely with Mone until the last few holes. The two were frontrunners, and Bae finished first with a 21-under-par, 267, leaving Mone to finish the last two holes.

Mone then carded a birdie on the 17th hole and par on the 18th hole, claiming the title with a 22-under-par, 266.

Sunday’s victory was Mone’s 13th title on the JLPGA Tour and her first since August last year. She is also an Olympic medalist, having secured a silver at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Bae, on the other hand, has secured two titles on the tour, both in 2019.

Shiho Kuwaki of Japan tied with Bae, while Shin managed a joint fourth finish with Xiyu Lin of China with a 20-under-par, 268.

The TOTO Japan Classic was the last tournament of the LPGA Asian Swing, with the tour heading back to the United States next week for the Annika.

The CME Group Tour Championship that tees off on Nov. 16 will be the last official tour event of the 2023 season.

Three Korean golfers have won a title this season, with Ko Jin-young claiming two wins at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in March and Cognizant Founders Cup in May, Ryu Hae-ran winning the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship on Oct. 1 and Kim Hyo-joo taking the title at the Volunteers of America Classic on Oct. 8.

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