Ye Won Lee has been crowned the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association’s (KLPGA) money winner for the 2023 season.
Lee carded five birdies and two bogeys in the second round of the S-Oil Championship at Elysian Jeju Country Club (Par 72) in Jeju City, South Korea, on Wednesday.
With a median total of 6-under 138, Lee is tied for fourth place, one shot behind the three co-leaders, and is in contention for the title.
The tournament is not yet over, but Lee, who leads the money list, will be crowned the winner regardless of the outcome of the rest of the tournament after second-ranked Park Ji-young withdrew due to a knee injury.
With three wins this season, Lee has amassed $1.268 billion in prize money.
Park Ji-young, with 972,247,385 won, was unable to add to her prize fund due to a withdrawal, so even if she wins the final event of the season, the SK Shielders-SK Telecom Championship (worth 200 million won), she will not overtake Lee.
Lee, who joined the regular tour in 2022 and was crowned Rookie of the Year, was a force to be reckoned with in her second year on the regular tour.
Lee is also leading in points and strokes gained, so he will be aiming to win multiple crowns.
“The money list was one of my big goals, and I’m proud to have secured it, and I’m happy that I had a really good season,” said Lee.
Lee, Kim Jae-hee, and Jung Yoon-ji are tied for the lead at 7-under-par 137.
Lee, who has won six titles in even-numbered years, shaved five strokes off her score with six birdies and one bogey on the day, setting the stage for a win in an odd-numbered year.
Kim Jae-hee carded an eagle and four birdies without a bogey.
Jung Yoon-ji also had a steady round, shooting a 68 in the first round and a 69 in the second for back-to-back days in the 60s.
Im Jin-hee, who is in contention with Lee for the grand prize points, dropped one stroke to tie for 21st place (1-under 143).
Rookie of the Year points leader Kim Min-byul advanced to the third round with a 3-over par 147.
Kim is closing in on the rookie crown after Hwang Yoo-min, the second-ranked player on the rookie points list, withdrew due to acute gastritis before the second round. 먹튀검증