Lee and Park claim victory as co-staged event shines again

Vic Open report: What happened at 13th Beach Links?

At one of the most unique event’s on the schedule Min Woo Lee and Hee Young Park claimed glory as they finished top of their respective fields.

Lee becomes the second member of his family to win around 13th Beach Links as he repeated the feat his sister, Minjee, achieved in 2014 and ’18.

The 21-year-old was chasing his first victory on tour and despite a final-round charge from Ryan Fox he was able to secure the title with a two-shot cushion on 19-under.

After a bogey at 17 he held a slender one-shot lead heading up the par-5 18th and his approach shot was executed like an experienced closer.

.@Minwoo27Lee showing his nerve late and will have three putts to secure the win of his career 🤩 pic.twitter.com/MZepV0Z6hb

— ISPS Handa Vic Open (@VicOpenGolf) February 9, 2020

Fox recorded the round of the day as he eagled the last to close out with a final round of 64 and recent maiden winner, Lucas Herbert, finished in a tie for 12th.

BOOM! Eagle at 18 for Kiwi @ryanfoxgolfer and be posts -17 pic.twitter.com/X9UsNUDXbX

— ISPS Handa Vic Open (@VicOpenGolf) February 9, 2020

From there he needed just two putts to seal the deal as his sister watched on having finished inside the top 10 in the women’s event.

.@Minwoo27Lee wins his first @ISPSHanda #VicOpen 👏🏆 pic.twitter.com/J6s3oasMUQ

— ISPS Handa Vic Open (@VicOpenGolf) February 9, 2020

The LPGA Tour’s side of the event had drama until the very end as a three-way play-off was needed.

Hye-Jin Choi, So Yeon Ryu and Hee Young Park finished at 8-under and would play the 18th over and again until a winner emerged.

It was very nearly settled on the first play-off hole when Park was left with an eagle putt for the win. Her attempted rolled just by and the trio headed back to the tee.

We are back for another playoff at 18 ⛳️ pic.twitter.com/LBRGA2PohF

— ISPS Handa Vic Open (@VicOpenGolf) February 9, 2020

After the second play-off hole three became two as Ryu was eliminated after carding a par 5 as birdies from her competitors ended her victory hopes.

A pair of birdies at the third extra hole saw the pair head back for a fourth time and now Park was able to get over the line.

Choi could only manage a bogey and this left the door open for Park to seal the deal with a short par putt and she obliged.

.@heeyounglpga wins after the 4th hole playoff in the 2020 @ISPSHanda #VicOpen 🏆 pic.twitter.com/k2Dgo40EmX

— ISPS Handa Vic Open (@VicOpenGolf) February 9, 2020

Ryu decided to donate half of her prize money to the battle against bushfires in Australia. The Korean has spent plenty of time in the country and showed her class with the gesture.

“I feel like even though I’m Korean and even though I spent a lot of time in America, I feel like Australia’s like second home,” she said.

There was a rare top 10 for America’s Christina Kim and Ireland’s Leona Maguire fought back from a Saturday 74 to secure a share of 4th.

Vic Open report: Talking points

As we’ve come to expect from this event in recent years the Vic Open once again did a sterling job of showcasing just how good professional tournaments can be in a range of different ways.

The co-staging nature of the tournament between the European and LPGA Tour’s proved a success again as both fields competed for the same prize money.

Geoff Ogilvy was one of a number of individuals praising the format and has called for this to become a more regular occurrence within the sport.

Related: Geoff Ogilvy: ‘It’s more than just guys in the world who play golf‘

And then there is the spectator value of the event.

Much like the Walker Cup spectators are able to walk with the groups up the fairways and get closer to the action than ever. It looks like the dogs enjoy it too.

Things we can't get enough of:

Fans on the fairways 🙌 pic.twitter.com/yjQYWeCztA

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 9, 2020

Walk the fairways with your favourite golfer…and your dog 🐕 Only at the @ISPSHanda #VicOpen pic.twitter.com/H2xxffxiUK

— ISPS Handa Vic Open (@VicOpenGolf) February 9, 2020