South Korea’s Lim Hee Jeong cruised to a convincing six-shot victory over closest rival Kwon Seo Yeon as she closed with a three-under-par 69 to lift the DB Group 36th Korea Women’s Open Golf Championship on Sunday.

Lim’s first win of the 2022 KLPGA season and her fifth KLPGA title were especially remarkable as she met with a car accident in April and is still on her way back towards full recovery. In her first tournament since returning from injury, Lim pulled out after the first round at the KLPGA Championship and did not make the cut in the NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship.

After opening with a 68, where she claimed a share of 13th place after the first round, Lim took over pole position on the second day by returning with a 66 at the highly-rated Rainbow Hills Country Club.

The 21-year-old then fired an identical 66 in the third round to enjoy a commanding six-shot advantage as she headed into the final round, perched atop the leaderboard. Lim strengthened her position by storming ahead with a pair of birdies on holes one and two as she commenced her final 18 holes. She parred the next four holes before sinking another birdie on seven to reach the turn in 33.

Lim then added another birdie to her card on 11. Her only blemish came on the par-four 15. But that proved inconsequential as she would par the next three holes to claim an unassailable lead and clinched the title in style with a winning total of 19-under-par 269. 

Defending Champion Park Min-Ji signed off with a 70 to finish outright third, seven shots back of Lim.

The DB Group Korea Women’s Open is part of the Ladies Asian Tour (LAT) series organised by the Asian Golf Leaders Forum (AGLF). Backed by the R&A, the LAT Series aims to boost Asian women’s golf, starting with the DB Group Korea Women’s Open, followed by the Hana Financial Group Championship in late September, Taiwan Women’s Open with SBS Golf, Hana Financial Group Singapore Women’s Open and OOO Championship with SBS Golf in December.