Hyojoo Kim Claims First KLPGA Win in 4 Years and 7 Months... "Preparing for US Women's Open"

One-Stroke Victory at the NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship

14th Career KLPGA Tour Win Since 2021

Hyunkyung Park Finishes 2nd, Kim Jaehee 3rd, Lee Yewon Ties for 9th

World No. 3 Hyojoo Kim has claimed her first victory on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour in four years and seven months.

On May 10 at the Suwon Country Club New Course (par 72, 6,762 yards) in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Hyojoo Kim carded three birdies and two bogeys in the final third round of the NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship, which had a total prize of 1 billion won. With a one-under-par 71 in the final round, she secured the win with a total score of nine-under-par 207.

This marks her first KLPGA Tour victory since the SK Networks·Seoul Economic Ladies Classic in October 2021. By capturing her 14th career victory (excluding amateur wins), she earned 180 million won in prize money.

Kim Hyoju is posing with the trophy placed on her lap immediately after winning the NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship. Photo by KLPGA

Hyojoo Kim first made her KLPGA debut victory at the Hyundai China Ladies Open in 2013. The following year, she made waves by winning five tournaments. Additionally, in 2014, she entered the Evian Championship, a major tournament on the U.S. LPGA Tour, as a non-member and won, making a successful leap onto the U.S. stage.

Since 2015, she has focused exclusively on the LPGA Tour. This year, she has already secured two victories on the LPGA Tour, winning the Fortinet Founders Cup and the Ford Championship in March, bringing her LPGA career total to nine wins.

On this day, Hyojoo Kim started the round with a three-shot lead but made a bogey on the 5th hole (par 3). On the 9th hole (par 4), she landed her second shot just 0.6 meters from the hole to make her first birdie, and then reclaimed the lead with a four-meter birdie putt on the 11th hole (par 5). She extended her lead over Hyunkyung Park to two strokes after picking up another birdie on the 13th hole (par 3).

However, Kim bogeyed the 14th hole (par 4), and Park made a birdie on the 16th hole (par 3), bringing the two players into a tie for the lead. The match was decided on the final 18th hole (par 4): Park's second shot landed in the bunker in front of the green, while Kim reached the green in two. Park made bogey, and Kim saved par with a two-putt to secure the win.

Kim said, "Although I allowed a chase and ended up competing as a co-leader today, I didn't feel nervous," adding, "I just focused on making one more birdie, and that led to a good result." She continued, "After returning to the U.S., I will take a break and then focus on preparing for the US Women's Open, which begins on June 4. I am very eager to achieve a good result there."

Hyunkyung Park put up a strong fight with a three-under-par 69, but had to settle for second place by a one-stroke margin (eight-under-par 208). This marks her second consecutive runner-up finish, following last month's Deoksin EPC Championship. Kim Jaehee finished third (seven-under-par 209), while Bang Shinsil, Moon Jungmin, and Kim Jisoo tied for fourth (five-under-par 211). Lee Yewon, who was seeking her third consecutive tournament title, finished tied for ninth (three-under-par 213).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.