Ko Ji-woo celebrates her wire-to-wire victory at the Hi One Resort Women's Open. [Photo=KLPGA]
Ko Ji-woo celebrates her wire-to-wire victory at the Hi One Resort Women's Open. [Photo=KLPGA]

Ko Ji-woo, known as the "birdie bomber," claimed victory at the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour's Hi One Resort Women's Open, which carried a purse of 1 billion won ($665,000).

Ko closed out the tournament Saturday at Hi One Country Club (par 73) in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, finishing at 22 under par 270 to beat joint runners-up Park Hye-jun and Seong Yu-jin by five strokes. She made only two bogeys in the final round. Her winner's check came to 180 million won.

Ko had entered the final round with an eight-stroke lead, and the commanding margin appeared to take some edge off her game early. She made her first bogey at the par-4 second hole — the same hole where she had made an eagle on Saturday — after overshooting the green, then dropped another shot at the par-5 fourth hole after repeatedly finding the rough.

Ko steadied herself after that, parring all 14 remaining holes to shut the door on any comeback. The victory gave her a second title at this event, reclaiming the crown she first won in 2024.

The Jeju Island native also extended a remarkable streak: all four of her career wins have come in Gangwon Province — the 2023 McColl·Mona Yongpyong Open, the 2024 Hi One Resort Women's Open, the 2025 McColl·Mona Yongpyong Open, and now this title.

The win added a family footnote as well. Her younger sister Ko Ji-won won the Siena Open in April, making this the second straight year the siblings have each claimed a title in the same season.

Ko had set a KLPGA Tour record for the lowest 54-hole score at 24 under par through Saturday's third round. She took aim at the 72-hole record in the final round as well, but the free-flowing play of the first three rounds did not carry over.

The victory nonetheless marks a significant comeback for Ko, who had fallen into a prolonged slump after injuring a finger ligament last year. Even this season, she had missed the cut five times in 11 events before this week.

With the 180 million won winner's check, Ko raised her season earnings to 296.88 million won, moving up to 16th on the money list. Her career earnings also surpassed 2 billion won, reaching 2.04 billion won.

Park Hye-jun and Seong Yu-jin each shot 4 under in the final round to finish tied for second at 17 under par 275.

Choi Ye-rim carded a 3-under 68 to finish at 16 under par 276, tying Seo Eo-jin — who finished even par on the day — for fourth place.

Shin Da-in fired the day's best round, a 5-under 68, to finish at 15 under par 277, sharing sixth place with Jeon Ye-seong and Kim Min-ju.


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