The Heaven Country Club made its debut as host of the Hana Financial Group Championship this week, bringing one of the KLPGA Tour’s leading events to Daebudo, Ansan, on Korea’s west coast.
Related: Kim Minsun triumphs at Hana Financial Group Championship
Kim Minsun claimed the title by four shots over Jang Eunsoo after closing with a four-under-par 68. Her final-round performance capped a week in which The Heaven Country Club tested the world-class field at every turn.
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Held from September 17–20 and offering total prize money of KRW 1.5 billion, the championship brought together leading KLPGA players, LPGA Tour stars and international competitors at the tournament’s new home.
Surrounded by the coastal scenery of the West Sea, The Heaven Country Club offered a distinctive setting as well as a rigorous challenge. Narrow fairways, thick rough and demanding shots around the greens placed a premium on precision, course management and par-saving ability.
Only 14 players finished under par across the championship’s four rounds, underlining the course’s exacting test.
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Speaking ahead of the championship after her pro-am, World No. 12 Lydia Ko of New Zealand said the course presented a test befitting the calibre of the field.
“This tournament isn’t a major, but it feels like a major,” said Ko. “The fairways are very narrow, and even players who hit it very straight would find it difficult to hit more than 70 to 80 per cent of them. When you get into difficult situations, saving par is important.”
Australia’s Minjee Lee and World No. 15 similarly identified accuracy and short-game execution as essential throughout the week.
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“The fairways are very tight and the rough is thick,” said Lee. “It was difficult to judge the rough around the greens, and it was hard to generate spin from it. Saving par was important, and laying up on the par fives could be a better strategy than always trying to reach them in two. This week was a test of many parts of my game.”
Since its inaugural edition in 2019, the Hana Financial Group Championship has established itself as one of the KLPGA Tour’s premier events. The move to The Heaven Country Club marked a new chapter in 2026, combining elite competition with Daebudo’s coastal setting, local culture and family-friendly experiences.
