Ma Seo-young, a little-known fourth-year player on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf (KLPGA) Tour, won her first career title in her first-ever appearance in a final-round leading group.
The 23-year-old, who plays for Rejuran, began the third round of the Iceberg Golf & Seoul Shinmun Open at the par-72 H1 Club in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, on the 18th with a one-stroke lead. She made two birdies and three bogeys to drop one shot, finishing at 4-under par in a tie with Sung Yu-jin. In the playoff held on the par-4 18th hole, Ma carded pars on both attempts while Sung made a bogey on the second extra hole. The winner's prize was 270 million won ($184,000).
Ma ranked 104th in prize money last year, missing the cut in 20 of the 28 events she entered. But she finished ninth at the tour qualifying tournament to keep her full status, and claimed her breakthrough victory late this season while sitting 56th on the money list. It was her first time both in a final-round leading group and in a playoff, and she overcame both to lift the trophy.
Kim Min-sol, a three-time winner this season, tied for fifth at 2-under par, while her four-time winning rival Seo Kyo-rim withdrew before the second round with rib pain. Among players from the U.S.-based LPGA Tour, Ko Jin-young fared best at 1-over par in a tie for 18th. Yu Hae-ran finished at 6-over in a tie for 42nd, and Yoon Lee-na closed at 9-over in a tie for 53rd.