Kim Hyo-joo 3rd Place "Regretful, Comeback Victory"... Inruuning 'Victory'

Kim Hyoju Dio Implant LA Open FR Even Par
In Running, Second Ever Chinese Winner After Feng Shanshan

World No. 10 Kim Hyo-joo failed to secure a come-from-behind victory.

On the 2nd (local time), Kim Hyo-joo finished tied for 3rd place (12-under 272) after failing to reduce her score in the final round of the LPGA Tour's DIO Implant LA Open (total prize money $1.75 million) held at Palos Verdes Golf Club (par 71, 6,447 yards) in Palos Verdes Estates, California, USA. She challenged for her 6th LPGA Tour win in a year since winning the Lotte Championship last April but settled for a top 3 finish. This marks her third consecutive top 10 finish this season.

Kim Hyo-joo is watching her shot immediately after the tee shot on the 4th hole on the final day of the DIO Implant LA Open. [Palos Verdes Estates, USA = AP·Yonhap News]

Starting the round two strokes behind in 2nd place, Kim Hyo-joo exchanged three birdies for three bogeys. She gained momentum in the front nine with birdies on the 2nd and 7th holes. However, her progress was halted by 'stepping stone bogeys' on the 10th and 12th holes. A bogey on the 16th hole (par 5) was offset by a birdie on the 17th hole (par 3), but she remained far from the lead. Her main weapon, the iron shots, faltered, making it difficult to create birdie opportunities. Her greens in regulation rate was 66.67%, and she had 31 putts.

In Ruoning (China) combined six birdies and five bogeys to claim her first career victory (15-under 269). The winner's prize money was $262,500 (approximately 340 million KRW). Born in 2003, In Ruoning is in her second year on the LPGA Tour, having debuted last year. She became the second Chinese player to win on the U.S. stage after Feng Shanshan, who has accumulated 10 LPGA Tour wins. Her best previous finish was a tie for 4th at the Dana Open last September.

Georgia Hall (England) recorded a 4-under 67 to finish 2nd (14-under 270). This is her second consecutive runner-up finish following last week's Drive On Championship. Patty Tavatanakit (Thailand) surged to a tie for 3rd with a six-stroke improvement. World No. 2 Nelly Korda (USA) and Carlota Ciganda (Spain) performed well, finishing tied for 5th (11-under 273). Defending champion Hataoka Nasa (Japan) finished tied for 7th (10-under 274).

From Korea, Choi Hye-jin improved by four strokes to jump to a tie for 18th (5-under 279). Rookie Yoo Hae-ran is also in this group. World No. 3 Ko Jin-young lost one stroke, dropping to a tie for 25th (4-under 280). World No. 1 Lydia Ko (New Zealand) added two under par to rise to a tie for 34th (3-under 281). Lee Mi-hyang, who led after the Monday qualifier and the first day of the tournament, finished tied for 38th (2-under 282).

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