South Korea’s A Lim Kim fired a 4-under 68 on Saturday to win the LOTTE Championship in Ewa Seashore, Hawaii.
Kim entered the fourth and last spherical of the match with a one-stroke lead and held on to edge Nataliya Guseva of Russia by two pictures. Guseva carded a 3-under 69 on Saturday to return up simply wanting Kim’s 18-under 270 at Hoakalei Nation Membership.
It marks the second profession LPGA Tour title for Kim, who racked up 25 birdies to associate with an ace on the LOTTE. Kim additionally gained the U.S. Girls’s Open in 2020.
“I believe Hawaii is extra good for me, extra snug, after which once I … got here on website, every part is new after which grass and skim could be very arduous for me,” Kim mentioned. “However getting higher from now, extra simpler.”
Bogeys on the par-4 second and par-3 ninth on Saturday ended up costing Guseva. She did have 5 birdies, together with a pair at Nos. 11 and 13, however she was unable to develop into the primary Russian golfer to win on the LPGA Tour.
“Clearly congrats to A Lim for an awesome recreation. I actually did my greatest on the market. I by no means gave up. Each gap like I gave simply my one hundred pc and greater than that,” Guseva mentioned. “I loved it on the market. I get pleasure from enjoying golf. I benefit from the crowds.”
Auston Kim birdied 4 of her first six holes earlier than slowing down, as she recorded only one extra birdie the remainder of the best way throughout a bogey-free spherical. She shared low-round honors with Japan’s Nasa Hataoka, who additionally posted a 5-under 67.
Auston Kim landed in third, three strokes behind A Lim Kim, whereas Hataoka got here in fourth, 4 pictures off the lead.
“It bought actually robust within the again. I bought off to a extremely sizzling begin. Made lots of good pictures and actually good putts on the entrance 9. Putter bought somewhat chilly after the ninth gap,” Auston Kim mentioned. “Simply saved telling myself, ‘Such as you’re hitting actually good pictures. You are visualizing whilst you’re feeling every part very nicely. Simply maintain giving your self probabilities.'”
Ryann O’Toole (70) and Yuri Yoshida of Japan (69) tied for fifth.
South Korean Jin Younger Ko (70) got here in seventh, Lindy Duncan (68) ended up in eighth and Hyo Joo Kim of South Korea (69) and Angel Yin (69) have been T9.
–Subject Stage Media
