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| Kim Min-sol / Photo: KLPGA |
[Sports Today reporter Lee Sang-pil] Kim Min-sol closed out a wire-to-wire victory for the third title of her career.
On April 12 at Golfzon County Seonsan in Gumi, North Gyeongsang (par 72 / 6,778 yards), Kim shot 1-under 71 in the final round of the KLPGA Tour iM Financial Open (total purse 1,000,000,000 KRW (about $750,000), winner’s prize 180,000,000 KRW (about $135,000)), carding four birdies, one bogey and one double bogey.
Kim led the tournament from start to finish and finished at 11-under 277, four strokes clear of joint runners-up Kim Si-hyun, Ahn Ji-hyun and Jeon Ye-seong (each 7-under 281).
The win was Kim’s first of the season and her third on the KLPGA Tour. It was her second wire-to-wire victory.
A former national-team player as an amateur, Kim made headlines in 2025 with four Dream Tour wins. In August, she earned her full tour card by taking the BC Card·Hankyung Ladies Cup as an invitee in wire-to-wire fashion.
She carried that momentum into October, winning the Dongbu Construction·Korea Land Trust Championship. Despite being the only rookie winner in 2025, she did not qualify for Rookie of the Year that season because she didn’t play enough regular-tour events. This year, however, she’s a leading contender not only for Rookie of the Year but also for Player of the Year.
Kim started the 2026 season with high expectations but struggled early, tying for 20th at the season opener, the Rejuran Championship, and finishing tied for 53rd at the domestic opener, The Siena Open. She turned the tide at the iM Financial Open, the tour’s third event of the season, where she lifted the trophy.
Kim moved to first in the rookie points standings with 345 points, sits fifth in Player of the Year points with 70, and ranks third on the money list with 196,753,333 KRW (about $147,565).
Entering the final round with a two-shot lead, Kim birdied No. 1 but dropped a shot at No. 3. As the chasing group also faltered, her margin actually widened. Back-to-back birdies at Nos. 6 and 7 pushed her lead to five strokes.
Her momentum briefly stalled with a double bogey at No. 11, but she steadied herself by sinking an approximately 3-meter birdie putt at No. 12. Kim parred the remaining holes to seal a four-stroke victory.
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| Kim Min-sol / Photo: KLPGA |
At her post-round press conference, Kim said, \”I’m happy to win wire-to-wire early in the season. My shot feel wasn’t great this week, so this wasn’t my A game. Winning with a B game showed me I can do it even when I’m not at my best.\”
Kim is widely regarded as the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year and is also in the running for Player of the Year and the money title. While that recognition validates her play, it also brings added pressure. \”I felt more pressure from myself than from others. I tried to let a lot of that go,\” she said.
Kim plans to set modest goals this season and check them off one by one. \”Gaining experience is important, and I want to be near the top across all categories,\” she said. \”If I had to name one big goal, it would be to lead the tour in wins.\”
Kim Si-hyun, Jeon Ye-seong and Ahn Ji-hyun tied for second at 7-under 281. Patcharajuta Kongkraphan (Thailand) finished fifth at 5-under 283. Ko Ji-won, Lee Ye-won, Bang Shin-sil, Kim Min-seon, and Song Eun-ah tied for sixth at 4-under 284.
Ma Da-som, who sat second through three rounds, lost six strokes in the final round and finished 2-under 286, tied for 13th.
[Sports Today reporter Lee Sang-pil sports@stoo.com]
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