Kim Hyo-joo secures thrilling comeback victory at Lotte Open
World No. 3 fires a flawless final-round 67 to claim her second KLPGA title of the season before flying out for the Amundi Evian Championship
Korea - World No. 3 Kim Hyo-joo maintained her perfect winning record on home soil this season after staging a brilliant final-round comeback to win the 16th Lotte Open on Sunday. Taking full advantage of a break in the LPGA Tour schedule, Kim carded a flawless, bogey-free five-under-par 67 during the final round at Bear’s Best Cheongna Golf Club’s USA-Australasia course in Incheon. She finished with a tournament total of 15-under-par 273, collecting the winner’s prize of 216 million won ($162,000 USD). The victory marks her second KLPGA Tour win of the season following her triumph at the NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship in May, extending her career domestic titles to 16 alongside her two LPGA Tour victories this year.
“I am incredibly thrilled to win a tournament hosted by my main sponsor, and it feels deeply rewarding to put on a better performance for the domestic fans than my previous outing,” Kim said following her victory. “I am leaving for France with an immense amount of positive energy ahead of competing in the Amundi Evian Championship, which is a major tournament on the LPGA Tour.” Kim boarded a flight on Sunday evening to travel to the Evian Resort Golf Club in France, where the four-day major championship is scheduled to get underway on July 9.
Kim began the final round three strokes behind the leader in fifth place but quickly surged into contention by picking up four birdies on the front nine. The turning point arrived on the par-four 15th hole, where she drained a crucial birdie putt to join Lee Se-hee at the top of the leaderboard. Kim then seized sole possession of the lead on the par-three 17th hole after executing a pressure-packed par save while Lee faltered with a costly bogey. She held her nerve on the final hole to secure a narrow one-stroke victory over a chasing pack that included Lee Se-hee, Yoo Hyun-jo, Lee Da-yeon, and Park Ye-ji, who all finished tied for second at 14-under par.