INCHEON -- After earning her LPGA Tour card with a victory on Sunday, South Korean golfer Ko Jin-young remains undecided on her immediate future.
Ko captured the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship on the Ocean Course at Sky 72 Golf & Resort, near Incheon International Airport, with a tournament record score of 19-under 269. The 2016 Korea LPGA Player of the Year, who has nine wins on the home tour, is now eligilble to play full-time on the LPGA Tour.
Ko is the fifth KLPGA player to win this tournament, which was first held in 2002 under a different corporate sponsor.
Ko now has two options. She can jump into the LPGA water right away, and play the rest of the season. There are four tournaments left on the current Asian Swing, and the season wraps up with the CME Group Tour Championship in mid-November.
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Ko Jin-young of South Korea celebrates her victory the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship at Sky 72 Golf & Resort`s Ocean Course in Incheon on Oct. 15, 2017. (Yonhap) |
If not, Ko can start fresh as a new member at the start of the 2018 season. But she can't defer her decision and join the tour in 2019.
In her post-tournament press conference, Ko said her focus remains on the domestic tour for the time being.
"I am still a KLPGA player, and I think it's only right for me to focus on the rest of the KLPGA season," Ko said. "It's not something I can decide on my own. And I don't think it'll be too late for me to speak to my parents and others first and think long and hard about it."
If Ko chooses to become an LPGA Tour member right away, she has until 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time next Friday to notify the LPGA of her decision.
If Ko is shooting for 2018 instead, she has to inform the LPGA by 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Monday of the week prior to the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament. It's typically held in late November or early December.
"I didn't really think I would have an opportunity like this," Ko said. "So I can't give you any answer at this point."
Ko was the overnight leader at 15-under, two ahead of two South Korean LPGA stars, world No. 2 Park Sung-hyun and 2016 Rookie of the Year Chun In-gee.
Ko lost her lead on the front nine after back-to-back bogeys at second and third holes, but bounced back quickly with a birdie at the fifth. Ko then recorded five more birdies against no bogey the rest of the way.
"I was quite flustered early on, but I realized today that it's never over until it's over in golf," Ko said. "I was nervous for no reason. I think I was putting too much pressure on myself. I kept telling myself that I'd have my opportunity."
In her maiden victory, Ko took down two former KLPGA stars who have become among the world's very best. Ko said she has been learning so much from both Park and Chun and she enjoyed playing in the final round with them with the champion's trophy on the line.
"They're such great players and this was another opportunity for me to learn from them just by watching," Ko said. "It's an honor to have my first LPGA win at home before so many fans." (Yonhap)
