South Korean In Gee Chun has won the US Women’s Open of the American Tour in Pennsylvania, becoming the first newcomer to win the tournament since Birdie Kim did it in 2005. It is also her first win on the LPGA Tour, whose best finish so far had been a second last year at the KEB Han Bank Championship.
In the final round at the Lancaster Club, Chun, the 2013 South Korean Tour Rookie of the Year, rallied from a four-stroke deficit to shoot 66, 4 under par, for a 272, 8 under par overall. In-gee, 20, beat compatriot Amy Yang by one stroke.
Chun started the final round four strokes behind Yang, but made three birdies on his last four holes to claim a tight victory.
Chun has become the seventh South Korean to win the U.S. tournament, following Pak Se-ri (1998), Birdie Kim (2005), Park In-bee (2008 and 2013), Ji Eun-hee (2009), Ryu So-yeon (2011) and Choi Na-yeon (2012).
This is the first time the golfer played in this major, making her the third player to win it on her debut, after Kim in 2005 and Kathy Cornelius in 1956.
Currently, Chun is a member of the South Korean Tour (KLPGA) and leads the earnings ranking of that Tour.
Chun, a professional player since 2012 and seven-time winner on the Ssur Korean Circuit, is scheduled to move up from 20th to 10th in the world rankings.
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