I worked hard on my physical training It has won three games for three consecutive years, and this year +α has won the championshipHe beat Hwang Yoo-min, his best friend, to win Doosan Match Play for the first time
May 18, 2025
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It has won three times in eight tournaments. In the match play, which was only the runner-up twice, he won seven consecutive games and became the match queen.
Lee Ye-won won the KLPGA Tour Doosan Match Play (total prize money of 1 billion won) held at Radena Country Club (par 72) in Chuncheon, Gangwon-do on the 18th, beating Hwang Yoo-min by four holes.
Lee Ye-won, who received 250 million won in prize money, took the lead with a total prize money of 752.96 million won. In addition to the prize money, all major records such as grand prize points, multiple wins, and average shots led the way, signaling the arrival of his era.
Lee Ye-won's first match play victory in 2022 and 2024, which swallowed the disappointment of the runner-up by losing the final of this tournament. Following last week's NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship, he achieved his third win of the season and ninth win of his career, and 10 wins were just around the corner.
Lee Ye-won did not win in 2022, the regular tour rookie season, but he is showing off his consistency by winning three games every season from 2023 to this season.
In the semifinals held earlier in the day, Lee Ye-won easily defeated Hong Jung-min, who lost the final of the 2022 tournament, by three holes to reach the final.
He faced Hwang Yoo-min, his best friend of the same age who beat Noh Seung-hee in the semifinals, in the final.
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In short games and putts, Lee Ye-won was overwhelmed. Except for the first hole (par 4) given up by a three-putt bogey, he tied the second hole (par 5) and was ahead all the time.
He birdied the third hole (par 3) by 1m to take the lead.
The watershed was the sixth hole (par 5). Hwang Yoo-min hit the remaining 241m second shot with the third wood to create a 3m eagle chance. However, Hwang Yoo-min's eagle putt slightly deflected off the hole.
Lee Ye-won, who calmly put his third shot on the 1.5m hole, drew with a birdie putt. It was a moment when Hwang Yu-min drew but felt like he had lost.
In fact, after the sixth hole, Hwang Yoo-min collapsed without controlling his mind. With a series of putt failures and green attacks, the distance has grown.
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In a broadcast interview, Lee Ye-won said, `I really wanted to win the match play, but I did it when I got the chance, so it's like a dream and I'm happy.' Regarding the difference from the two runner-ups, he said "I think I was very nervous at the time, and I couldn't play well because I was physically burdened. I focused on my play in this final, and I think I was rewarded because I worked hard on my physical training through the winter training last winter."
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Although he lost to his friend, Hwang Yoo-min earned 135 million won in the runner-up prize by finishing second in his first Doosan match play.
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Photo provided = KLPGA
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.