The BMW Ladies Championship 2022, held at Oak Valley C.C. in Wonju, Gangwon-do, from October 20 to 23, concluded successfully with over 81,000 spectators. This event showcased the unique prestige of being the only LPGA tournament in Korea.
After three years, the BMW Ladies Championship resumed with live audiences, shattering records for the most attendees from the first day and attracting a total of 81,657 spectators by the final round. This impressive turnout mirrored attendance levels seen at LPGA tour major events held in the United States, reaffirming the tournament’s status on the world stage.
In response to the cheers of over 81,000 fans, the players delivered outstanding performances. Lydia Ko, starting the final round just one stroke behind in second place, shot an impressive 7-under-par to finish with a total score of 21-under-par 267, clinching a comeback victory. Andrea Lee, a Korean-American, finished in second place with 17-under-par, while Choi Hye-Jin and Kim Hyo-Joo followed closely with 16-under-par.
The remarkable performance of an amateur player, specially invited by BMW Korea to nurture promising female golfers, also drew attention. On the first day, Kim Min-Sol recorded an impressive 8-under-par, securing a surprising second place. She maintained her focus throughout the final round, finishing in the top 10 with a total score of 10-under-par, igniting excitement among amateur golf enthusiasts.
Exciting hole-in-one records also emerged during the event. Choi Na-Yeon, who chose the BMW Ladies Championship as her retirement stage from the LPGA tour, recorded a hole-in-one on the 12th hole during the third round, winning a flagship SAV ‘BMW New X7 xDrive 40i Design Pure Excellence’ valued at 150 million Won, becoming the first customer of this model in South Korea.
Meanwhile, Ariya Jutanugarn scored a hole-in-one on the 17th hole, winning a luxury flagship sedan ‘BMW New 740i sDrive Design Pure Excellence Executive Package’ valued at 173 million Won. In addition to these, Hinako Shibuno also scored a hole-in-one on the 7th hole of the final round, leading to a total of three hole-in-ones during this championship.
The variety of conveniences set up for the spectators contributed to the smooth running of the tournament. For the first time in a Korean golf tournament, a dedicated application based on big data was developed to establish a self-ticketing system, and real-time information on shuttle bus congestion was provided to seamlessly transport the over 81,000 spectators to and from the event.
Additionally, a mobile MD store within the application allowed for a one-stop shopping service where fans could search for, purchase, and pick up products at once. Fans could easily buy limited edition official souvenirs from the tournament along with various golf supplies, and utilize contactless food ordering and pickup notifications conveniently at F&B booths set up at the spectators’ plaza and major courses.
Staying true to being sponsored by BMW Korea, a range of luxury vehicles was displayed, reminiscent of a motor show, offering a unique experience to attendees. The upcoming BMW New Series 7 was exhibited throughout the spectators’ plaza and various spots on the course, while the flagship SAV BMW New X7 had its grand reveal at this event, captivating the spectators with its elegance and grandeur.
CEO Han Sang-Yoon of BMW Korea expressed, “Despite hosting a tremendous number of spectators unprecedented in the tournament’s history, we were able to conduct the event without any major incidents, thanks to the mature viewing culture of everyone who attended. I promise we will return in 2023 with even more progress.”
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr