Ko records 12 top-10 finishes, including a tie-breaking four wins, during the 2019 LPGA Tour season
NAPLES, Fla., Nov. 20, 2019 – Rolex Rankings No. 1 Jin Young Ko has clinched the LEADERS Top 10 competition on a tiebreak, along with a $100,000 bonus, after accumulating the most top-10 finishes during a hugely successful season on the 2019 LPGA Tour.
The straight-hitting Korean racked up 12 top-10s in 21 starts, including four victories and three runner-up spots, to finish ahead of second-place Brooke Henderson and third-place Hyo Joo Kim. Henderson and Kim also recorded 12 top-10s but Ko won the competition via a tiebreak, her four official tournament wins eclipsing Henderson (two) and Kim (none).
Each of the three players will receive one year's worth of complimentary LEADERS' products.
The LEADERS Top 10 competition began at the season-opening Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions presented by Insurance Office of America in January and concluded two weeks ago at the TOTO Japan Classic. In the event of a tie in total top-10s, the award goes to the player with the most official wins, followed by most second-place finishes, third-place finishes, etc., until the tie is broken.
A trophy presentation for Ko, who locked up the title with two LPGA Tour events remaining, will be made this week ahead of the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship, to be played in Naples, Fla., from Nov. 21-24.
"I am truly honored to win the LEADERS Top 10 competition," said Ko, a six-time winner on the LPGA Tour who has been No. 1 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings since late July. "This has been one of the best years of my career and I am feeling pretty good about my game right now. All these accolades, they come along your way when you are in the process of trying to perfect your game. I want to thank God, my family, my friends and my sponsors for having faith in me and for helping me achieve my goals. I would also like to thank LEADERS for sponsoring this top-10 competition."
Ko has produced remarkably consistent form in 2019, winning four times and leading the LPGA Tour in multiple statistical categories on the way to earning Player of the Year honors with three events remaining. She claimed her first victory in March at the Bank of Hope Founders Cup, then followed it up with her first LPGA major championship two starts later at the ANA Inspiration. Ko earned her second major crown of the season at The Evian Championship, coming from four strokes back to catch 54-hole leader Hyo Joo Kim and win by two shots. She clinched her fourth LPGA Tour victory of the year at the CP Women’s Open, becoming the first LPGA player to win a 72-hole event in bogey-free fashion since countrywoman Inbee Park did so at the 2015 HSBC Women’s World Championship.
Ko rose to No. 1 in the Rolex Women’s World Rankings on April 8 after her win at the ANA Inspiration and held the spot for 12 weeks. She again rose to the top spot in the Rolex Rankings on July 29 following her win at The Evian Championship, a position she still holds.
LEADERS Cosmetics, a global leader in facial masks and skincare products, is the LPGA's Official Cosmetics Partner, a relationship that will continue through the 2020 season. Over the past four years, LEADERS Cosmetics has introduced fans to the 'Fresh Faces' of the LPGA by featuring the 'Rookies on Tour' on Golf Channel.
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