Min Byul Kim follows the direction of the ball.
“I’m more happy to win the rookie title in my hometown.”
Kim Min-byul’s expression was a mixture of joy and regret after she was crowned the rookie champion at the final event of this year’s Korean Ladies Professional Golf (KLPGA) Tour season.
Kim finished tied for 14th (3-over par 219) at the SK Shields-SK Telecom Championship, the final event of the KLPGA Tour season, at the par-72 Rabiebel Country Club Old Course in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, on Wednesday to win the most competitive rookie title ever.
Rookie of the Year race runner-up Hwang Yoo-min and third-place Bang Shin-sil took home the trophy, but Kim was unable to finish.
Minbyul Kim has finished in the top 10 11 times this year, including three runner-up finishes and one third-place finish.
However, two of her three runner-up finishes were in overtime, and one of those overtime losses was to fellow Rookie of the Year contender Hwang Yoo-min.
“My goal at the beginning of the season was to win the title rather than the Rookie of the Year,” said Kim Min-byul, “but I think I did well to be rewarded with the title of Rookie of the Year, and it’s especially special to be the Rookie of the Year in my hometown of Chuncheon.”
Kim Minbyul, who finished ahead of Hwang Yoo-min in the Rookie of the Year points at the last tournament and could have been crowned Rookie of the Year even if she finished last, repeatedly expressed her disappointment, saying, “Even though I was told that the Rookie of the Year title was virtually confirmed, I wanted to play boldly because I wanted to win, which was my goal at the last tournament.”
“There were a lot of times when I didn’t play my best because I didn’t want to win,” said Kim, who vowed to strengthen her putting and short game in winter training, and to develop the mental strength to play my best in overtime and nervous moments. 19가이드03
