Jin Young Ko Rallies To Win 2021 BMW Ladies Championship

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Jin Young Ko Wins BMW Ladies Championship
Jin Young Ko poses with the celebration cake marking the 200th LPGA Tour win by a South Korean player after winning the BMW Ladies Championship at LPGA International Busan on Oct 24, 2021 in Busan, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun via Getty Images)

Jin Young Ko rallied with a bogey-free 8-under 64 and then edged Hee Jeong Lim in a playoff to win the BMW Ladies Championship 2021.

The win was Ko’s second-consecutive victory and is projected to return to the No. 1 spot in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings when they are released on Monday.

Ko said she entered Sunday’s finale wanting to leave it all on the table.

“I thought, going into the fourth round, that if I give it my best shot, that I would have a shot at winning,” said Ko, who has won four times in her seven most recent starts, including three of her last five.

She added, “I wasn’t that nervous going into the playoff. I think I was feeding off the confidence I had during the round.

Jin Young Ko Wins BMW Ladies Championship
Jin Young Ko is congratulated by Da Yeon Lee (R) after winning the BMW Ladies Championship at LPGA International Busan on Oct 24, 2021 in Busan, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun via Getty Images)

“When I was heading to the tee ground, I turned to Dave and I told him that this was my first playoff ever, and he smiled, and he said, ‘Welcome.’ And that helped me ease those nerves.”

Lim’s runner-up finish is her third of the 2021 season on the Korean LPGA.

Finishing five strokes behind Ko and Lim at 17 under sat the duo of major champions Lydia Ko and A Lim Kim, along with Korean LPGA stalwarts Da Yeon Lee an Na Rin An.

Winner’s Pro-File

Jin Young Ko Wins BMW Ladies Championship
Jin Young Ko lines up a putt on the ninth hole during the final round of the BMW Ladies Championship at LPGA International Busan on Oct 24, 2021 in Busan, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun via Getty Images)

Full Name: Jin Young Ko
Nationality: Korean
Birthdate: July 7, 1995 (age 26)
Native: Seoul, S. Korea
Resides: Plano, Texas
Turned Pro: 2013
LPGA Tour Rookie: 2018
Caddie: David Brooker
Highest World Rank: 1st
LPGA Victories: 11
LPGA Earnings: $7.55 million


BMW Ladies Championship

Jin Young Ko Wins BMW Ladies Championship
Jin Young Ko poses with the trophy after winning the BMW Ladies Championship at LPGA International Busan on Oct 24, 2021 in Busan, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun via Getty Images)
Leaderboard: Final Top 10

1. Jin Young Ko -22 (-8)*
2. Hee Jeong Lim -22 (-4)
3. Lydia Ko -17 (-8)
3. A Lim Kim -17 (-8)
3. Da Yeon Lee -17 (-7)
3. Na Rin An -17 (-3)
7. In Gee Chun -16 (-4)
7. Hae Ran Ryu -16 (-3)
9. Alison Lee -15 (-4)
10. Ji Hyun Oh -14 (-7)
10. Danielle Kang -14 (-1)


Credits: Getty Images, LPGA Tour Communications


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