Hye-Jin Choi has long been one of the best LPGA players without a title, and while that didn’t change on Sunday in China, she did author some of the day’s most electric moments.
The South Korean holed out for eagle twice from the fairway in the final round on Hainan Island, putting together a most unusual scorecard. Choi, 26, made two eagles but no birdies on Sunday at the Blue Bay LPGA. She began the day three shots back of leader Mi Hyang Lee in a share of second. A final-round 74 that included a double and four bogeys ultimately left her in a share of fifth.
Choi’s first hole-out came from 121 yards on the par-4 fifth hole. The ball bounced off the flagstick and dropped down into the cup.
Five holes later, Choi did it again on the par-5 10th hole, using the slope behind the hole to drain another and take a share of the lead.
Unfortunately for Choi, the mojo ended there. She played the last eight holes in 2 over.
The Blue Bay marked Choi’s fourth consecutive week of competition, dating back to the PIF Saudi Ladies International, where she took a share of fourth. According to the LPGA, the Blue Bay marked the 20th time Choi had entered the final round of a tournament within five shots of the lead since she joined the LPGA in 2022.
A 12-time winner on the KLPGA, Choi’s first big splash on a worldwide stage came at the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open when she nearly won as an amateur, ultimately finishing solo second to Sung Hyun Park.
Her most recent close call came at the Maybank Championship last fall when she lost in a playoff to Miyu Yamashita in Malaysia.