고진영, LPGA 뱅크 오브 호프 파운더스컵 투어 우승…통산 3승 VIDEO: KO RALLIES TO WIN BANK OF HOPE FOUNDERS CUP
KO RALLIES TO WIN BANK OF HOPE FOUNDERS CUP
24 MAR 2019
PHOENIX (AP) - Jin Young Ko channeled her inner Dustin Johnson to win for the first time in the United States.
After an even-par 72 left her five strokes back heading into the weekend at the Founders Cup, Ko talked to fellow South Korean player Jennifer Song about the top-ranked PGA Tour star.
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고진영, LPGA 뱅크 오브 호프 파운더스컵 투어 우승…통산 3승 고진영(24)이 4타차의 열세를 뒤집고 미국여자프로골프(LPGA) 투어 뱅크 오브 호프 파운더스컵(총상금 150만 달러) 우승을 차지했다. 지난해 투어 신인상 수상자 고진영은 25일(한국시간) 미국 애리조나주 피닉스의 와일드파이어 골프클럽(파72·6656야드)에서 열린 대회 마지막 날 4라운드에서 7언더파 65타를 기록, 최종합계 22언더파 266타로 우승했다. 지난해 2월 호주오픈에서 우승한 고진영은 약 13개월 만에 투어 통산 3승째를 따냈다. 우승 상금은 22만5000달러(약 2억5000만원)다. 한국 선수들은 올해 6개 대회에서 4승을 쓸어 담으며 시즌 초반 강세를 이어갔다
3라운드까지 선두에 4타 뒤진 공동 4위였던 고진영은 이날 보기 없이 버디만 7개를 몰아치는 맹타를 휘둘러 2위 그룹을 한타차로 따돌리고 짜릿한 역전승을 일궈냈다. edited by kcontents 2015년과 2016년 이 대회에서 우승한 김효주와 김세영이 나란히 17언더파 271타로 공동 10위에 올랐다. 지난해 우승자 박인비는 11언더파 277타, 공동 34위다. [디지털뉴스국 이성구 인턴기자] 매일경제 |
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"She told me Dustin hit so bad and he didn't get angry - put clubs in the bag and just walk," Ko said. "So, I tried like Dustin yesterday and today. I just tried no angry, no happy, just focus. "
It worked.
The 23-year-old Ko closed with bogey-free rounds of 64 and 65 at Desert Ridge to rally for a one-stroke victory Sunday. She birdied Nos. 14-16 and parred the final two to finish at 22-under 266, then won when third-round leader Yu Liu missed a 15-foot par putt on the par-4 18th.
Liu shot a 70 to tie for second with playing partner Carlota Ciganda and sisters Jessica and Nelly Korda. Ciganda closed with a 69, Jessica Korda eagled the two back-nine par 5s in a 64, and Nelly Korda shot 66.
Choosing to putt with the flagstick in the hole under golf's new rules, Ko made a 4-footer on the par-3 14th, two-putted for birdie on the par-5 15th and made it three in a row from 3½ feet on the par-4 16th.
LPGA
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"Lots of players thinks if there is a pin in the ball might hit the pin and come out," Ko said. "I think it's great to put the pin in because of it makes it easier for me to putt because it is a small target."
A 10-time winner on Korean tour, Ko won the 2017 LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship in South Korea to earn her LPGA Tour card and took the Women's Australian Open last year.
She broke through in the U.S. on Sunday in the event that honors the 13 women who founded the LPGA Tour, a goal she said she thought about too much last year.
"But my friends told me, 'You can do it.' Also my manager and my parents, my caddie, all people say you can," Ko said. "I got lots of confidence for this year. Really good for third win in the States."
Ko has three top-three finishes in four events this year. She was second behind Nelly Korda last month in her Australian title defense and was coming off a third-place tie three weeks ago in Singapore.
The 23-year-old Liu missed a chance to follow Shanshan Feng as the second Chinese winner in tour history.
"It was amazing week for me," Liu said. "First time being able to play in the final round, first time being in contention. Didn't handle the way I wanted to, but feel like there is always room for improvements."
The former Duke player wasn't sure where she was on the leaderboard playing the 18th.
"I don't know exactly where I stand, if I needed to make birdie or just save par and get to playoff," Liu said. "So I wasn't as focused as I would've liked. I think that's why I made bogey."
Ciganda played at Arizona State, helping the Sun Devils win the 2009 NCAA title.
"I would've loved to win," the Spaniard said. "Always special here in Phoenix, but I couldn't today.
Jessica Korda returned from a left forearm injury to make her first start of the season.
"Obviously, playing pain-free. It shows," she said.
Jin Young Ko hits from the third fairway during the final round of the Founders Cup/The Edwardsville Intelligencer
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She parred the last two holes, leaving a 20-footer an inch short on 17 and coming up well short on 18.
"I knew I had to post a low one just to kind of make the girls a little nervous," she said. "A little disappointed with leaving that last putt short because I knew I needed to make it. I thought it was going to be downhill. Just the difference in the shade with the light I guess just confused me a little bit."
Nelly Korda had her fifth straight top-10 finish to open the season. She also parred the final two holes.
"I'm bummed, but I'm not too bummed because I played well this week and I'm happy with the way my game is trending," she said. "I gave myself an opportunity on the last couple holes. Seventeen just burned the edge and then I lipped out pretty hard on 18, unfortunately."
Top-ranked Sung Hyun Park faded after sharing the second-round lead with Liu. The Singapore winner had weekend rounds of 69 and 72 to tie for 14th at 15 under.
http://www.lpga.com/news/2019-jin-young-ko-rallies-to-win-bank-of-hope-founders-cup
