[Photo: Getty images]
Jiyai Shin said she would take home to South Korea a bottle of Australian sand after cementing her legacy Down Under by winning a second Women’s Australian Open title, 11 years after her first. Shin earned a two-shot triumph over defending champion Ash Buhai during a truly wild final round at Kingston Heath on Sunday.
Shin, a former world No.1 and two-time Women’s British Open winner, shot 70 on the final day in Melbourne which included two eagles. At 17-under-par, Shin won by two over Buhai (68, 15-under), who won the 2022 and 2023 editions. The South African was going for the first three-peat in the 50-year history of the Women’s Australian Open.
Shin is the winningest Korean golfer of all time, man or women, with 65 victories.
Korean amateur Hyojin Yang was third seven-under while major winner Hannah Green, and her fellow Australian and LPGA Tour winner, Grace Kim, were tied fourth at six-under.
Shin had a wild five holes to begin her final round – three birdies, a double-bogey and a hole-out eagle form 102 metres at the fourth. “I hit a pitching wedge and well my ball is just front of the tree,” she said. “It was like good gift for me. I think [it was one of the best shots of my career].”
After another eagle at the 10th, Shin opened up a six-shot lead. That allowed the 36-year-old to weather three bogeys on the back nine, with a lone birdie at the 14th, for a two-shot win. “I tired to keep focus on my game because on this golf course with the conditions, nobody knows until the end,” Shin said. “Some holes worked, some holes didn’t work. But you can see, I’m still holding my trophy so yeah. It was not easy but I’m really happy.”
Shin said the Patricia Bridges Bowl was the same trophy she remembers from her 2013 victory at Royal Canberra. “I can see my name here as well. So next one I can put in the next one. So actually, it’s so gorgeous. Yeah, I really happy.”
It’s safe to say Shin feels at home in Australia.
“Yes, that’s true. Even yesterday, my dad say that Australia is something special for me. So my dad said to bring some sand to in a bottle to bring home,” Shin said. “I never had a bad day in this tournament so that’s why I love to play golf.”
