South Korea’s Kim A-lim shot a four-under-par 68 in the final round on Saturday to win the Lotte Championship by two strokes and record only her second career LPGA Tour title after the 2020 US Open.
Kim’s 18-under total of 270 at Hoakalei Country Club in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, consolidated her one-shot overnight lead over Russian LPGA Tour rookie Nataliya Guseva, who carded a 69 to finish on 16 under.
American Auston Kim was third on 15 under after a final-round 67, with South Africans Paula Reto and Ashleigh Buhai ending on four under (T30) and three under (T35) respectively.
Starting the day at 14 under par, the 29-year-old Kim opened the door to Guseva, who birdied the 1st, with a bogey five on the 2nd – only for the Russian to also card a five at the same hole.
“It did not really go well to be honest at the beginning,” a relieved Kim told reporters after celebrating victory. “I just told myself I’m going to do what I set out to do. I just trusted myself.”
It worked as Kim then went on a run of three birdies in four holes.
“After my bogey [at the 2nd] I started to focus really well and my mind was sharp so I started playing even better,” said the winner.
A three-putt at the 8th dropped her back into a tie with the 21-year-old Russian at 15 under.
But Guseva bogeyed the par-three 9th as Kim reached the turn a stroke ahead, where she remained until a final birdie at the 18th sealed the title.
A beaming Kim was clearly enjoying her week, which included a hole-in-one at the 9th during Friday’s third round, only her second-ever ace.
“It was super fun,” said Kim. “On the course I feel like it was more fun. I haven’t felt this way in a long time.”
The 21-year-old Guseva, who came through qualifying school to reach the elite women’s Tour, was bidding to become the first Russian winner in LPGA Tour history.
“Obviously congrats to A-lim for a great game,” said Guseva. “I really did my best out there. I never gave up. Every hole like I gave just my 100% and more than that.”
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
