Hong wins Kolon-Hana Bank title in first LPGA event
GYEONGJU, South Korea -- Jin Joo Hong became the third South Korean player to win the country's lone LPGA Tour event in her first tour start, closing with a 2-under 70 on Sunday for a three-stroke victory in the Kolon-Hana Bank Championship.
 2. Jang (-8) 3. Pak (-6) T-4. Shin (-5) T-4. Icher (-5) T-6. Creamer (-4) T-6. Lee (-4) T-6 Hur (-4) • For complete scores, click here |
The 23-year-old Hong, one of 12 Korea LPGA players in the field, had an 11-under 205 total on the Mauna Ocean Golf Club course, the first-year site after four seasons at Nine Bridges on Jeju Island. Compatriot Jeong Jang (68) finished second.
South Korean players have won all five titles in the event, with Shi-hyun Ahn (2003) and Jee Young Lee (2005) also winning in their first LPGA Tour starts.
"I'm very happy. It wasn't that easy, but I'm glad that I made it," said Hong, who earned $202,500. "I didn't feel any pressure or nervous today. I felt a little bit nervous on the first three holes yesterday.
Hong, the 15th non-LPGA Tour member to win a tour event, will be exempt on the 2007 LPGA Tour if she chooses to become a tour member.
"I will make that decision after I come back from Japan," Hong said. "I haven't thought about it yet. I thought about going to Japan because my mother lives in Japan and we haven't lived together for a long time."
Hong recently won the SK EnClean Solux Invitational for her first Korea LPGA title.
"After I won SK, I gained confidence and I've been practicing a lot," she said. "After that step up, it feels easier."
Se Ri Pak, the 2002 winner, shot a 67 to finish third at 6 under. Ji-Yai Shin (68) and France's Karine Icher (72) followed at 5 under, and Paula Creamer (72) was another stroke back along with Lee (72) and amateur Mi Jung Hur (73).
Jang, a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour, had her 12th top-10 finish of the season to top $1 million for the season.
"I was five strokes back from the leader and that's pretty tough," Jang said. "She was playing 4 under or 5 under and she had good conditions. I didn't think I was going to break her today. So, my goal was over $1 million, top-five or something."
Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press
