Historic all-time Major record set in France

Korean players continue their dominance of women’s golf with In Gee Chun seizing an historic Major victory in the Evian Championship in France at the weekend (15-18 September).  It was a wire-to-wire victory for the 22-year old from Seoul in the fifth and final Major of the season.  Chun closed out in style on Sunday with a round of 69, two-under par, to get to a record-breaking 21-under for the tournament and win by a four-shot margin from fellow South Koreans, So Yeon Ryu and Sung Hyun Park on 17-under par.  Olympic Bronze Medallist Shanshan Feng from China was two strokes further back and claimed fourth spot.

 

Chun’s score is not only the best ever for four rounds in a Major in the women’s golf world but it also eclipses the best score recorded in a Major on the men’s tours.  Australian Jason Day holds that honour with his 20-under par in the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits which was matched by Sweden’s Henrik Stenson in The Open at Royal Troon earlier this year.

 

The South Korean’s step into the history books began on day one in France when she stunned the rest of the field by opening with a 63 (8-under par) at the Evian Golf Club in Evian Les Bains, which she then followed with three more rounds in the sixties: 66, 65 and 69.

The Evian Championship is her second Major title having won the 2015 US Women’s Open. It boosts an already impressive record back home where she has nine Korean LPGA victories to her name and another two on the LPGA of Japan Tour.  Chun takes home a big prize cheque too: just over 433,000 euros for her 263 shots in Evian.

 

Congratulations to you In Gee Chun – very impressive golf!

 

Wendy Hoad

 

 

Nice to know:

FINAL LEADING SCORES: Winner – In Gee Chun (KOR) 263;  T2. S. Ryu, S. Park  (KOR) 267; 4. S. Feng (CH) 269;  5. S. Kim (KOR) 270;  6. I. Kim (KOR) 272;  7. A. Stanford (US) 274;  8. H. Nomura (JPN) 275.

THE CUT:  72 players made the 3-over par cut (145).  Among the 8 players missing the cut by one stroke: Laura Davies (ENG) 69-77 and Juli Inkster (US) 74-72.

BEST BRITS: T12. Jodi Ewart Shadoff (ENG) 279;  T36. Catriona Matthew (SCO) 282.

SPANISH INTEREST: Carlota Ciganda (winner of the 2012 Dutch Ladies Open) was tied 17th on 281.

 

PICTURED:  In Gee Chun with the Evian Championship trophy.