South Korea's Ko Jin-young makes history as first player to win LPGA debut in 67 years
- 6 years ago
Ko Jin-young has added her name to the long list of incredibly talented Korean players on the L-P-G-A tour.
Ko fended off a determined charge from another Korean golfer to win the Women's Australian Open and capture a piece of tour history.
Park So-yun reports.
Twenty-two-year-old Ko Jin-young made history on Sunday in Australia, becoming the first player in 67 years to win her debut LPGA tournament.
Beverly Hanson was the only other player to do it in 1951 at the Eastern Open.
Ko held her nerve, shooting a three-under 69 in the final round at the Kooyonga Golf Club in Adelaide.
Ko fired a total 14-under 274 at the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open, beating fellow South Korean Choi Hye-jin by three strokes.
Ko was guaranteed LPGA privileges after she won the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship last October.
When asked about her goals for the season, Ko said she hopes to earn Rookie of the Year honors.
She's already a star in South Korea, having won ten times on the Korean LPGA tour, with a rank of 20, and she's posed to shoot up the list when the newest world rankings are released.
Ko's victory down under gives her a strong head start in the race for the Rookie of the Year -- the last three of whom have all been South Koreans.
Park So-yun, Arirang News.
Ko fended off a determined charge from another Korean golfer to win the Women's Australian Open and capture a piece of tour history.
Park So-yun reports.
Twenty-two-year-old Ko Jin-young made history on Sunday in Australia, becoming the first player in 67 years to win her debut LPGA tournament.
Beverly Hanson was the only other player to do it in 1951 at the Eastern Open.
Ko held her nerve, shooting a three-under 69 in the final round at the Kooyonga Golf Club in Adelaide.
Ko fired a total 14-under 274 at the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open, beating fellow South Korean Choi Hye-jin by three strokes.
Ko was guaranteed LPGA privileges after she won the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship last October.
When asked about her goals for the season, Ko said she hopes to earn Rookie of the Year honors.
She's already a star in South Korea, having won ten times on the Korean LPGA tour, with a rank of 20, and she's posed to shoot up the list when the newest world rankings are released.
Ko's victory down under gives her a strong head start in the race for the Rookie of the Year -- the last three of whom have all been South Koreans.
Park So-yun, Arirang News.