'Red Pants' Sei Young Kim Conquers BMW Ladies Championship... Ignites the Grounds of Haenam County

[Financial News] The vast fairways of Pine Beach Golf Links in Haenam County have been the stage for an intense drama over the past few days.
At the center of it all stood 'The Tank,' Sei Young Kim. Five long years. For one of the leading stars of Korean women's golf, this period must have felt both fleeting and eternal.
Sei Young Kim quenched her thirst for victory, which had persisted since the 2020 Pelican Championship, right here in Haenam County, near her hometown of Yeongam—a place deeply rooted in Korean heritage.
On the 19th, during the final round of the LPGA Tour BMW Ladies Championship, Sei Young Kim achieved a wire-to-wire victory, never relinquishing the lead from the first day to the last. She finished with a total of 24-under par, 264 strokes, securing a commanding win by four shots over Nasa Hataoka of Japan. The winner's prize of $345,000 (approximately 490 million KRW) is a fitting reward for her resurgence. This marks her 13th career LPGA Tour title, a testament to her class.

The final day was far from easy. Although she began the round with a four-shot lead over the second-place group after three rounds, a short missed par putt on the third hole (par 3) allowed her pursuers to close the gap. Yealimi Noh of the United States mounted a fierce charge, narrowing the lead to just one stroke at one point. A sense of unease swept through the gallery.
But Sei Young Kim lived up to her 'Killer Kim' reputation. Her instincts under pressure awakened at the fifth hole (par 4), where she reignited her momentum with a sharp iron shot to set up a two-meter birdie. She continued her birdie streak on the sixth and seventh holes, then drained a long birdie putt on the ninth (par 4) to stretch her lead back to four shots. The early jitters proved to be nothing more than a prelude to an even greater surge.
Kim remained composed on the back nine. A steady string of par saves and a crucial birdie on the 14th hole (par 4) sealed her victory. Her seasoned course management and unwavering focus once again demonstrated why she is a champion.

This win is more than a personal achievement. It marks the sixth LPGA Tour victory by a Korean player this season. Following Kim A-lim, Kim Hyo-joo, Ryu Hae-ran, Jinhee Lim-So Mi Lee, and Hwang Yoo Min, Sei Young Kim has taken up the baton. It is the first time in four years, since 2021 (seven wins), that Korean players have claimed at least six LPGA Tour titles in a single season, reaffirming the strength of Korean women's golf.
The BMW Ladies Championship has long been a stage where Korean or Korean-descended players have excelled. Jang Ha-na in 2019, Jin Young Ko in 2021, Lydia Ko (a New Zealand national of Korean descent) in 2022, and Minjee Lee (an Australian of Korean descent) in 2023 all continued the 'Korean DNA' winning streak. Although Hannah Green of Australia briefly interrupted this tradition last year, Sei Young Kim reclaimed the trophy this year, once again writing a new chapter in the dominance of homegrown talent.
Champagne flowed in Haenam County, its refreshing burst washing away five years of longing. The spectacular comeback of 'Red Pants' Sei Young Kim on her home soil is a living legend in the making.
jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter