(CEOs Park Kang-soo and Choi Deok-hyung) announced that Hong Hyun-ji won the 2023 Lotte Rent a Car GTOUR WOMEN’S Championship at Golf Zone Joimaru in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon on Sunday, December 17, with a final total of 21-under par (10-under par in the first round and 11-under par in the second round).
The championship was held in GOLFZONE’s TWOVISION PRO Tour mode and featured a total of 43 professionals, including the top 40 players on the 2023 Season Grand Prize List and the top players on the Rookie of the Year List, competing for the top spot. The tournament was played at Masterpiece CC as a two-round, 36-hole stroke play event with no cut, and the course was open to the public on the day of the championship, allowing players to see how they would play on the fly.
Showcasing the unwavering play of the GTOUR’s most dominant player, who has won the last three events as well as the season’s money list and grand prize for the second consecutive year, Hong shot 10-under par in the first round to take a one-shot lead into the final round. Six birdies in the first half of the final round and four consecutive birdies on the back 10 helped him shave 11 strokes off the lead in the final round. In particular, he utilized his sharp iron shots and putting to his advantage as the difficulty of the greens required careful course management. Lee Soon-ho also showed good form as he steadily moved up the leaderboard despite being a stroke behind. His final hole eagle earned him the Best of the Day award, and he finished the tournament at 16-under par and in sole possession of second place.
Championship winner Hong Hyun-ji said, “There were moments this season when my confidence dropped and I was mentally shaky, but I think I was able to win the championship as a result of pulling myself together and playing calmly as I have been working hard.” “Next year, I will debut on the KLPGA regular tour and play on the GTOUR at the same time, so please give me a lot of support,” she said.
At the grand prize ceremony held after the end of the match, after watching the highlight VCR video of the 2023 GTOUR WOMEN’S, which has provided various sights and fun for many screen golf fans through eight tournaments until the championship this year, the popularity award, rookie champion, season prize winner, and grand prize were announced.
Once again, it was the reigning champion Hong Hyun-ji who took home the top prize, proving that she is not only a GTOUR powerhouse but also a golf queen on screen and in the field. “I want to thank all the people involved, my family, and the players I’ve played with,” she said in the finale.
The popularity award went to GTOUR signature star and seven-time champion Han Jimin. “I think I was able to receive a lot of love because of the GTOUR, and next year, I will be active in various fields to show better performances and skills, and I will become a player who grows in a more correct and good way as the fans gave me this award,” said Han.
Jung Soo-bin, who won the Rookie of the Year Award, which can only be received once in a lifetime, said, “I am grateful to the officials and sponsors, and since I won the Rookie of the Year Award, I will become an active player on the regular tour and GTOUR next year, and I want to aim for the championship.”
Meanwhile, the 2023 GTOUR WOMEN’S Championship, with a total prize fund of 100 million won, will be supported by Lotte Rental, which has been the title sponsor all season, as the main sponsor, with Ian Poulter Design, World Wine Company, Dunlop Sports Korea, Digital Cheongpung, and NextGen as sub-sponsors. The tournament will be broadcast live on the ScreenGolfZone channel, JTBC Golf, Naver Sports, Daum Sports, and GolfZone YouTube channels on the day of the tournament, and will also be broadcast globally via SPOTV Asia to eight countries in Southeast Asia.