Choi Ye-rim claimed her first KLPGA Tour title Sunday at the OK Savings Bank Utman Open, which carried a purse of 1 billion won ($736,000), finally adding "champion" to her name after years of near-misses.
In the final round at Adonis Country Club (par 72) in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, Choi carded three birdies and two bogeys for a 1-under 71, finishing at 10-under 206 to edge runner-up Im Hee-jeong by one stroke for her first win on the regular tour. "It's my first win in nine years as a pro, and I'm so happy — I'm still in a daze," Choi said. "From here, I really want to win 10 titles, 10 titles."
Choi had entered the final round with a three-stroke lead and looked comfortable through the front nine, showcasing sharp iron play that saw her miss only one green in regulation across the first nine holes. She birdied the 1st hole (par 4) from 4.3 meters, then added birdies on the par-5 5th and 9th holes from 90 centimeters and 3.5 meters, respectively.
The back nine, however, brought turbulence. The field mounted a fierce charge, with Im leading the pursuit by firing six birdies on the day, steadily closing the gap and piling pressure on Choi.
Choi's lead began to slip when she drove into the rough on the 14th hole (par 4), made bogey with a three-on, two-putt, and suddenly found Im just two strokes back. She then drove into the rough again on the 16th (par 4) and missed a 4-meter par putt, trimming her lead to one.
It was the kind of moment that could have revived painful memories of her nine previous runner-up finishes. Standing on the 18th tee (par 4) with a one-stroke lead, Choi again pushed her drive into the right rough — a bogey there would have forced a playoff. But she kept her composure, found the green in two, and two-putted from 7.6 meters to make par and seal the victory.
The win came in Choi's 239th KLPGA Tour start and earned her a winner's check of 180 million won. The title also lifted her to third place in both the season points standings and the money list, announcing her presence at the top of the tour.
Choi turned professional in 2017 and collected two wins on the Dream Tour, the second-tier circuit, but had gone winless on the KLPGA Tour proper, accumulating nine runner-up finishes without a title. She had been the all-time leading money earner among winless players on tour. This year alone, she suffered her ninth career runner-up finish in June, losing to Kim Min-sol in a playoff at the McColl-Mona Yongpyong Open.
In her post-round interview, Choi reflected on the moment. "I'm usually a big crier — I'm very sensitive and I cry a lot in everyday life. I used to imagine, 'If I ever win, I'll cry so much. What if the tears just won't stop?' But I didn't cry as much as I expected," she said. "I think the biggest feeling is just pure joy."
Im Hee-jeong finished with a bogey-free, six-birdie round to claim the runner-up finish. The 110 million won runner-up check lifted her money-list ranking from 71st to 38th.
Kim Min-sol, chasing her fourth win of the season, shot a 4-under 68 to finish at 8-under 280 and take sole third place. The 80 million won third-place prize pushed her season earnings to 103.66 million won, enough to overtake Seo Gyo-rim (132.17 million won) and reclaim the top spot on the money list.
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