Yuri Yoshida wins her first LPGA title at the tournament in South Korea

Yoshida's first title

Japanese golfer Yuri Yoshida claimed her first title on the LPGA Tour, winning by one stroke at the Ladies Championship in South Korea, AFP reports. The 26-year-old athlete, who joined the tour in 2024, finished the tournament at 17 strokes under par, and after the victory she was doused with champagne.

How the final round unfolded

Going into the final day, Yoshida was four strokes behind the leader, but she began the final round brilliantly: on the first seven holes of the Pine Beach Golf Links course she made an eagle and three birdies. Then came a stumble — a bogey on the 15th hole, a birdie on the 17th, and another bogey on the final, 18th hole. However, Ryu Hae-ran, who had led after the third day, also dropped a stroke on the 18th hole, and Yoshida's final round — four strokes under par (68) — was enough for victory.

Tournament results

Second place at 16 strokes under par was shared by the home players Choi Hye-jin and Ryu Hae-ran. A further stroke behind were South Korean golfers Kim Min-sol and Kim Hyo-ju. For Choi Hye-jin it was yet another painful disappointment: the wait for her first LPGA victory continues — a week earlier she also finished second, one stroke behind, in Shanghai, where China's Yin Ruoning took the win.

The significance of the victory

The victory marked a turning point in Yoshida's career, as AFP describes it — her first title on the LPGA Tour two years after joining the tour. For South Korean fans, the tournament once again ended without a home victory, even though four of the top five places went to South Korean players. In practical terms, this means Yoshida earns her first title granting tour winner status, while Choi Hye-jin extends her streak of runner-up finishes at LPGA events for two weeks in a row.