Kim Hyoju "Sponsorship Tournament Victory Sweetly Seized"

by Roh Woolae

Published 17 Apr.2022 11:54(KST)

5th Career Win and 370 Million Won Jackpot at Lotte Championship, Shibuno 2nd, Choi Hye-jin 3rd, Lee So-mi 5th

Kim Hyo-joo is teeing off at the 3rd hole on the final day of the Lotte Championship. Photo by Daehong Communications

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] It is a victory at a sponsor tournament for Kim Hyo-joo (27, Lotte), ranked 13th in the world.

On the 17th (Korean time), at the Hoakalei Golf Club (par 72, 6,603 yards) on Oahu Island, Hawaii, USA, Kim finished the final day of the LPGA Tour Lotte Championship (total prize money $2 million) by reducing 1 stroke to complete a 2-stroke victory (11 under par 277). This is her 5th career win, 11 months after the HSBC Women's World Championship in May last year, with a winner's prize of $300,000 (37 million KRW). Following Ko Jin-young (27), the HSBC Women's Champion last month, this is Korea's second win this year.

Kim Hyo-joo started with a 3-stroke lead and recorded 3 birdies and 2 bogeys. She gained momentum with birdies on the 5th hole (par 5) and 8th hole (par 4), but faltered with a '3-putt bogey' on the 9th hole (par 3). In the windy back nine, she maintained her score with a stable strategy, making pars until a bogey on the 17th hole (par 4), but sealed the victory with a birdie on the final 18th hole (par 5). Her powerful drives averaging 286 yards were the driving force behind her win.

Hinako Shibuno (Japan), the 2019 major British Women's Open champion, reduced 2 strokes to finish second (9 under par 279). Korea's Choi Hye-jin (23, Lotte) recorded 3 under par to finish third (7 under par 281), her best this season. Invited player and 'KLPGA member' Lee So-mi (23, SBI Savings Bank) also performed well, finishing fifth (5 under par 283). Anna Lin (26, Mediheal) tied for sixth (4 under par 284), and Jeon In-ji (28, KB Financial Group) tied for 12th (2 under par 286).