HAENAM, South Korea — In a gripping conclusion to the LPGA South Korea tournament, Yuri Yoshida staged a remarkable comeback at Pine Beach Golf Links on Sunday to secure her first-ever LPGA Tour victory. The 26-year-old Japanese golfer overcame a four-shot deficit at the start of the day, clinching the title with a four-round total of 17-under 271.
The tournament reached a fever pitch in the final holes as the leaderboard shifted dramatically. Yoshida, who trailed overnight leader Haeran Ryu by four strokes heading into the final round, ignited her charge early. She lit up the front nine, highlighted by an eagle at the par-5 second hole, followed by three consecutive birdies that saw her turn in 5-under 31. Despite hitting bogeys on the 15th and 18th holes, a clutch birdie on the 17th provided the vital cushion required to withstand the pressure of a tense finale.
For Ryu, the day was one of missed opportunities. Leading the field by four strokes entering Sunday, the South Korean struggled to find the consistent rhythm she displayed throughout the week. After carding 15 consecutive pars, her composure faltered with a bogey on the 16th, which erased her lead and allowed Yoshida to seize control. Although both players birdied the 17th, the drama intensified at the final hole. A costly miss by Ryu on the 18th, coupled with a bogey by Yoshida, left the Japanese star standing alone atop the leaderboard by a single stroke. Ryu finished at 16-under 272.
Joining Ryu in a tie for second was Hye-Jin Choi, whose agonizing wait for a first LPGA Tour victory continues. Choi, who remained in contention throughout the day, carded four birdies against a lone bogey to match Ryu’s 16-under finish. The result marks yet another near-miss for the South Korean golfer, who has now held or shared the 54-hole lead five times in her 125-start career without successfully converting it into a win. Having finished as runner-up just last week in Shanghai, Choi’s frustration was palpable as the drought extended.
Defending champion Sei Young Kim, who broke a five-year winless streak at this event last year, was unable to repeat her success. Kim carded a final-round 70 to finish at 2-under 286, settling for a tie for 55th.
As the LPGA Tour’s late-season Asian swing continues, the focus now shifts to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The circuit heads to the Maybank Championship next week, the third of four high-stakes events in the region as players look to solidify their standings before the season finale. For Yoshida, however, the trip home will be one to remember, as she leaves South Korea having etched her name into the winner’s circle for the first time on the global stage.
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