Kim Min-sol Claims National Title: "I'm the Super Rookie"

Narrow One-Shot Victory at Mercedes-Benz Korea Women's Open
Leads in Prize Money, Player of the Year, and Rookie Points
National Team Member Yang Yunseo Takes Second; Roh Seunghee Shares Third

Born in 2006, “super rookie” Minsol Kim has now claimed a national title as well.

On June 14, Minsol Kim played the 4th round of the 40th Mercedes-Benz Korea Women’s Open (total prize money: 1.5 billion won) at Lakewood Country Club’s Mountain and Forest courses (par 71) in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province. She recorded two birdies and one bogey for a round of 1-under-par 70. With a total score of 4-under-par 280, Kim won by a one-stroke margin. This marks her second victory of the season, following her win at the iM Financial Open in April, and the fourth win of her career. She received 400 million won in prize money and a sport utility vehicle (SUV) valued at 130 million won as additional prizes.

Minsol Kim previously played on the Dream (second-tier) Tour last season and earned her tour card after winning the BC Card-Hankyung Ladies Cup as an invited player on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour. She also captured the title at the Dongbu Construction-Korea Land & Housing Championship last year, quickly establishing herself among the top players. Due to a shortage of tournament appearances last season, she retained her rookie status for this year.

Minsol Kim is posing for a commemorative photo holding the trophy after winning the 40th Mercedes-Benz Korea Women's Open. Provided by the Korea Golf Association

With this victory, Minsol Kim now leads the prize money ranking (776.32 million won), the Player of the Year points (243 points), and the Rookie of the Year points (1,148 points). Additionally, she has secured spots in the AIG Women’s Open, one of the major tournaments on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour, as well as the Japan Women’s Open Championship, the national title tournament in Japan.

On this day, Minsol Kim and amateur Yoonseo Yang (Incheon Girls’ High School Broadcasting Correspondence School), born in 2008, started the final group as co-leaders and engaged in a tight competition. After Yang recorded a bogey on the 10th hole (par 4), Kim took the lead. However, play was suspended for 2 hours and 55 minutes due to a lightning warning during the 12th hole (par 3). When play resumed, Kim made par on the 14th hole (par 4), while Yang missed a 5-meter par putt, widening the gap to two strokes.

Minsol Kim delivered a decisive blow on the 15th hole (par 4). After reaching the green with her second shot, she sank a birdie putt from over 6 meters, effectively sealing her victory. Kim had finished tied for 54th at last week’s major, the U.S. Women’s Open, before entering this tournament. In her post-victory interview, she expressed her excitement, saying, “I learned a lot, including how to manage my game, by playing in the U.S. tournament. As with my first win of the season, my goal of becoming the best in the world remains unchanged.”

Yoonseo Yang, a national representative who has also been selected for the Asian Games team this September, finished second (3-under-par 281). Seunghee Noh and Minseon Kim7 shared third place (1-over-par 285). Shin Ji-ae, who returned to the Korea Women’s Open 18 years after her victory in 2008, finished tied for seventh (3-over-par 287) along with Woo-ri Jeon, Da-in Shin, and Ye-bon Choi.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.