KIM Bokyung Wins in Champions Tour Debut After Playoff Drama

[THE CAPTURE=Kang Byeong-koo] KIM Bokyung (40) made a spectacular return to competitive golf, capturing victory in her very first appearance on the KLPGA Champions Tour.

Competing at Gunsan Country Club in Jeollabuk-do, KIM finished the KLPGA 2026 Champions Classic Opening Event with a total score of 9-under-par 135, tying Moon Jiyoung2 before securing the title in a dramatic playoff.

The championship was decided on the very first extra hole.

Returning to the 18th hole for sudden death, Moon recorded a bogey while KIM calmly made par, sealing her first Champions Tour victory and lifting the championship trophy.

As a member of the prestigious K-10 Club and a four-time winner on the KLPGA Tour, KIM became eligible for Champions Tour competition this season. She immediately demonstrated her class by winning in her debut appearance.

The final round did not begin smoothly. KIM struggled to convert birdie opportunities and dropped a shot with a bogey on the 6th hole. However, she steadily regained momentum, making birdies on the 8th, 11th, 15th, and 18th holes to remain in contention throughout the day.

Her birdie on the final hole of regulation proved especially significant, forcing a playoff and ultimately creating the opportunity for victory.

Following the win, KIM expressed both surprise and happiness.

“It still doesn’t feel real,” she said. “I was already happy just to be competing alongside other players again after such a long time, so winning makes it even more special.”

She added, “During the front nine, I told myself not to focus on winning and simply enjoy the round. Once I relaxed, things started to go my way. Even in the playoff, I wasn’t thinking that I absolutely had to win, and I think that helped me stay calm.”

KIM’s victory marks the first time since Choi Hyejeong in 2024 that a player has won in her Champions Tour debut. She also became the ninth player in tour history to achieve the feat.

The victory not only adds another title to her accomplished career but also signals that KIM Bokyung remains a formidable competitor as she begins a new chapter on the Champions Tour.