Hyo Joo Kim clinched her fifth career LPGA Tour title on Saturday, winning the 2022 LOTTE Championship by two strokes over Hinako Shibuno of Japan.
The 26-year-old shot a final-round 71 to finish 11 under at the Hoakalei Country Club.
This is for every girl. 🏆 Hyo Joo Kim | @LPGALOTTE | #DriveOn pic.twitter.com/8Osg9sdWzs— LPGA (@LPGA) April 17, 2022
This is for every girl. 🏆 Hyo Joo Kim | @LPGALOTTE | #DriveOn pic.twitter.com/8Osg9sdWzs
Saturday’s championship came down to the wire, as Kim, who entered the final round with a three-stroke lead, bogeyed the par-3 17th to cut her advantage to a single stroke. Kim quickly rebounded, though, sinking a 2-foot birdie putt on the 18th to claim victory.
“I’m proud of that shot,” said Kim. “Maybe I made a lot of people like sit on the edge of their chairs, so I felt great about it.”
Shibuno carded a bogey-free 70 on Saturday, finishing at -9, just behind Kim for a dramatic finale to the LOTTE Championship.
Kim will take home a $300,000 purse in addition to her LOTTE trophy.