'Super Rookie' Kim Minsol Claims Player of the Year Title After Money Title... 'Yoo Hyunjo Wins Season Finale'

Kim Minsol rallies to claim Player of the Year after tying for sixth at Daebo HausD
First player since Shin Jiae in 2006 to sweep three major titles
Yoo Hyunjo leads scoring average; Seo Gyorim tops wins list

'Super rookie' Kim Minsol also claimed the Player of the Year title.

Kim carded a 5-under-par 67 in the final round of the Daebo HausD Championship, the final event of the 2026 Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour season, at Seowon Hills' West and South courses (par 72, 6,649 yards) in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, on Nov. 8. She finished tied for sixth at 8-under-par 208. The 42 points she earned lifted her to the top of the Player of the Year points standings with 567 points, four ahead of Seo Gyo-rim (563).

Kim, who had secured Rookie of the Year honors early, claimed both the money title with 1,628,439,428 won and the Player of the Year title. She is the first player to sweep Rookie of the Year (2,836 points), Player of the Year and the money title on the KLPGA Tour since Shin Ji-ae in 2006, a 20-year gap. Kim also set a new milestone as the first player on the KLPGA Tour to earn more than 1.6 billion won in a season.

Kim Minsol smiles brightly during an interview after taking the top spot in the grand prize points standings at the Daebo HausD Championship, the season finale. Provided by KLPGA.

Kim made her KLPGA Tour debut last year and won twice, but did not receive Rookie of the Year honors because she had not played enough events. Retaining her rookie eligibility this year, she lifted trophies at the major Mercedes-Benz Korea Women's Open, the iM Financial Open and the McCol Mon Yongpyong Open, among other tournaments. She made the cut in all 25 events she entered. The last time a player earned prize money in every KLPGA Tour event she entered was in 2022, when Park Hyun-kyung did so, four years ago. Kim finished in the top 10 11 times, including three wins, four runner-up finishes and two third-place finishes.

"I think I could give myself 100 points this year. I feel like I wrapped up the season well," Kim said with a broad smile. She added, "Rookie of the Year is meaningful because you only get one chance at it in your career. The Player of the Year title is even more rewarding than the money title, perhaps because it was so hard to win."

Yoo Hyun-jo celebrates with her caddie after making a birdie on the 4th hole during the final third round of the season-ending Daebo House D Championship. Provided by KLPGA.

Yoo Hyun-jo won the tournament at 14-under-par 202. Starting the final day tied for the lead, she shot a 4-under and edged out Lee Yewon (13-under-par 203) by one stroke. It was her third win of the season and fifth career victory, earning her 300 million won in prize money. By finishing 14 strokes under par at the tournament, Yoo also took first place in scoring average with 70.6795. Seo Gyo-rim, who had four wins this season, struggled to a tie for 52nd at 4-over-par 220. She was left to take consolation in leading the Tour in wins.

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