On July 5, at the Bears Best Cheongna Golf Club in Incheon, Kim recorded a flawless final round with five birdies and no bogeys, finishing with a score of 5-under 67 in the fourth round of the 16th Lotte Open, which has a total prize purse of 1.2 billion won.
With a total score of 15-under 273, Kim edged out a group of players, including Lee Se-hee, Yoo Hyun-jo, Lee Da-yeon, and Park Ye-ji, who all finished at 14-under 274, by one stroke. The victory comes with a prize of 216 million won.
This win marks Kim's fourth victory this season across both the Korean and American tours. She previously secured two wins on the LPGA Tour (the Founders Cup and the Ford Championship) and triumphed at the KLPGA Tour NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship in May, along with this recent victory.
Kim's career total now stands at 16 wins on the KLPGA Tour, including one as an amateur. This victory is particularly significant as it marks her first win at a tournament hosted by her main sponsor since 2020, when she won the Lotte Cantata Women's Open.
The outcome of the tournament was decided in the final holes. After a series of pars, Kim added a birdie on the 15th hole (par 4), tying for the lead with Lee Se-hee. The pivotal moment came on the 17th hole (par 3), where Lee made a bogey while Kim maintained her composure to secure a par, taking the solo lead. On the 18th hole (par 4), both Lee and Yoo missed their birdie putts, confirming Kim's victory.
Having just returned from competing in the LPGA Tour major event, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Kim achieved this valuable win despite a grueling schedule. She will now head straight to France to compete in the LPGA Tour's fourth major of the season, the Amundi Evian Championship, starting on July 9, where she will aim for her second major title.
Park Ye-ji, Lee Se-hee, Yoo Hyun-jo, and veteran Lee Da-yeon, all seeking their first wins, finished tied for second.
Hwang Yu-min, who participated in her first Korean tournament after competing on the LPGA Tour this season, finished tied for sixth with a total score of 11-under 277.
Rookie Kim Min-sol ended the tournament tied for 12th with a score of 9-under 279.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.