▲ Ma Seo-young celebrates her victory at the Iceberg Golf & Seoul Shinmun Open
Ma Seo-young has claimed her first-ever victory on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, becoming the inaugural champion of the Iceberg Golf & Seoul Shinmun Open.
Entering the final third round of the tournament as the sole leader at H1 Club (par 72) in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, today (18th), Ma dropped one stroke with two birdies and three bogeys to finish at 4-under 212, forcing a playoff with Sung Yu-jin.
Ma clinched the trophy by defeating Sung in a tight contest that went to the second playoff hole, earning 270 million won in prize money.
Prior to this tournament, Ma had ranked 56th on the season's prize money list and faced concerns over retaining her playing privileges for next year, but this victory secures her tour card through the 2028 season.
After both players carded pars in the first playoff hole on the 18th hole (par 4), Ma sealed the victory in the second extra hole.
Ma landed her second shot 8.4 meters from the hole and calmly secured her par with two putts.
Sung sent her second shot past the green and her chip shot also missed long, leaving her with a 5.2-meter putt.
Sung ultimately missed her par putt for a bogey, handing the championship trophy to Ma.
A fierce battle unfolded in the final round as players in the championship group struggled to protect their scores amid harsh weather conditions featuring rain and strong winds.
Starting the day as the sole leader, Ma suffered from erratic tee shots, dropping one stroke on the front nine with two birdies and three bogeys.
Kim Min-joo, who had surged to the sole lead thanks to back-to-back birdies on the 1st and 2nd holes, stumbled on the 8th hole (par 3) after her tee shot was ruled a lost ball, resulting in a double bogey.
Meanwhile, Lee Ye-won and Sung Yu-jin shaved strokes to chase down Ma and form a tie for the lead.
The championship race, which had briefly lulled, reignited when Sung surged ahead.
After Lee Ye-won dropped out of the joint lead with a bogey on the 14th hole (par 3), Sung sank a 5.5-meter birdie putt on the same hole to suddenly jump to a two-stroke sole lead.
However, Sung stumbled with a three-putt bogey on the 15th hole (par 4) and dropped another stroke on the 16th hole (par 5), falling into a tie for the lead with Ma Seo-young and Lee Ye-won.
As the tournament entered the demanding closing stretch filled with difficult holes, the battle shifted from lowering scores to protecting par.
After Lee Ye-won bogeyed the 18th hole (par 4), Sung Yu-jin and Ma Seo-young proceeded to a playoff.
Playing in the championship group and contesting a playoff for the first time in her career, Ma steadied her shaky early shots to taste the joy of victory.
Lee Ye-won and Kim Si-hyun finished tied for third at 3-under 213, while Kim Min-sol, Lee Chae-eun, and Kim Min-joo tied for fifth at 2-under 214.
(Photo: Provided by KLPGA, Yonhap News)
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