Jung-Tai Kim, Na Rin An

Na Rin An emerged victorious at the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Hana Financial Group (HFG) Championship 2020 on November 8, 2020 after she pulled ahead of her competition with a fantastic final round. She started the day tied for lead with Ha Na Jang and Min Ji Park but soon  surged ahead as the latter two struggled with the cold weather and strong wind.

HFG is the third largest financial group in South Korea by market capitalization. Its chairman Jung-Tai Kim presented the KLPGA HFG Championship 2020 trophy to An, who took home the prize money of KWR 300 million ($268,000).

“Last night, before the last round, I had chance to talk to my mom about a car,” An revealed. “My mom actually told me that she would buy the car for me if I win once more. Today, I have won the tournament so I will tell my mom that we can get a car.”

An shot 1-under par for the final round, winning the championship with a total score of 280, 8-under par, which is three shots ahead of Jang, the runner-up. With this win, An also moves up the KLPGA Player of the Year rank to eighth and for the 2020 money ranking to second.

It was the second win of An’s career. She won KWR 800 million ($717,400) from the first one, the Autech Carrier Championship 2020, which took place in Yeongi, South Korea from October 8-11, 2020.

“It took me four years to earn my first win a month ago but here I am picking up a second win, which is earlier than I expected to win  again,” An said. “I’m really glad about it. I will work even harder from now on.”

On the final day of the Autech Carrier Championship 2020, An looked a little shaky on the final day even though she had a 10-shot lead. At the KLPGA HFG Championship 2020, she performed differently and was really calm throughout.

“For the Autech Carrier Championship last month, I was very nervous on the final round since I didn’t have any experience in winning the tournament,” An admitted. “I think that’s why my play didn’t  work out the way I wanted it to. However, I tried to focus more on my own game today and this worked out really well with a good  result.”

According to An, she has experienced a lot of tournament courses with strong wind for the past month, which helped her a lot in doing well at the KLPGA HFG Championship 2020.

It has been 10 years since An started playing golf. She started from middle school in September 2009.

“When I look back, I think I was very  diligent and sincere, trying to focus more on my work,” An said. “There is nothing special about my golf  except the steady practice.”

At the KLPGA HFG Championship 2020, An made her first bogey today on the 17th hole and she was nervous when she was  having the bogey putt. She tried to focus on the game after that and wished to go in the direction of losing with as few strokes as possible, which turned out nicely with a great result.

“Statistically, my record of greens in regulation improved,” An said. “I’ve been changing my swings steadily and my body got used to it so I think this is the reason why my games are going well. Before changing my swings, the ball contacts were not constant, leading me to a low rate of greens in regulation.”

If An wins the next tournament, she can win the title of 2020 KLPGA Tour Prize Money Winner. She said, “It will be good for me to earn the title but for the last tournament, I will focus on my game and playing rather than to earn the tile.”

As an athlete, An wants to be known as a diligent and sincere golfer who works hard and a player who actively pursuits her own goal and successfully completes her own task and role.