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. 🏆
— LPGA (@LPGA) April 17, 2022
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.
Hyo Joo Kim carded two late birdies to preserve a three-stroke lead in the third round of the LPGA Tour’s Lotte Championship on Friday.
Hyo Joo Kim is in search for her 5th LPGA win in Hawaii.
— LPGA (@LPGA) April 16, 2022
Ahead of the final round, check out her third round highlights 👇 pic.twitter.com/4VddmoAzFn
“There was a lot of wind going back and forth. I think it was difficult because it was not specifically directional,” said Kim of the conditions at Hoakalei Country Club in Hawaii.
Hinako Shibuno and Brianna Do trail Kim at 7 under heading into the final round, with Do firing a 5-under 67 and Shibuno recording a bogey-free round to climb the leaderboard.
“I’ve been working to retool my swing a little bit to make it more reliable under pressure and kind of simplifying it and making more efficient,” said Do.
Somi Lee and Stephanie Meadow round out the top of the leaderboard, both finishing at 6 under.
The Lotte Championship concludes Saturday, with coverage starting at 7 p.m. ET on the Golf Channel.
Hyo Joo Kim took a three-stroke lead Thursday at the LPGA Tour’s Lotte Championship, finishing the second round five under par at 67.
She finished with birdies on the 13th, 16th and 18th holes to reach 10 under par for the tournament during a bogey-free round at Hoakalei Country Club. It’s the first time the country club has hosted the event.
“First of all, I’m satisfied,” said Kim, who is currently ranked 13th in the world. “I played the same score and bogey-free round as yesterday, but more satisfied with today’s play than yesterday.”
Having played in every Lotte Championship since its inception in 2012, her best finish has been tied for fourth in 2014 and 2015.
After back-to-back 67s, Hyo Joo Kim holds the solo lead heading into moving day 🔥
— LPGA (@LPGA) April 15, 2022
FULL LEADERBOARD ⬇️ https://t.co/uy2gylQahy
She sits ahead of Australia’s Sarah Kemp, who shot a 69.
“Really solid. Lots of fairways, greens,” Kemp said. “I had a chip-in. Rolled it really well. It was just steady. I hit one fairway bunker short, but just overall really steady.”
Tied for third at four strokes back are Ariya Jutanugarn and Haeji Kang. A Lim Kim sits five under alongside Na Rin An.
First-round leader Hannah Green shot a 76 to fall eight strokes back of the lead. Defending champion Lydia Ko hit seven bogeys in the second round alongside four birdies to fall to 10 strokes back of the leader.
Two-time champion Brooke Henderson, who shot a 74 in the first round, had to withdraw due to an illness prior to the start of the second round.
Amy Yang had a pretty good day Thursday.
The 15-year pro recorded her third career ace on the 12th hole. It’s also her first since 2010.
Using her 9-iron, Yang holed out 143 yards away from the tee for the only ace thus far this week during the Lotte Championship Tournament at Kapolei Golf Club.
🚨 ACE ALERT! 🚨
— LPGA (@LPGA) April 16, 2021
Amy Yang with a ☝️ on the 12th hole in Hawaii!@LPGALOTTE | @GolfChannel pic.twitter.com/qFnvaxI7f5
“I was quite excited. I didn’t think it was going in. I mean, I hit a good shot, it was rolling perfect, and, yeah,” said Yang.
The ace adds another $20,000 donation on behalf of CME Group to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, bringing the season total of three aces to total of $60,000 donated.
The Lotte Championship continues through Saturday, with Yuka Saso and Lydia Ko holding strong atop the leaderboard. The tournament can be watched live from 7-11 p.m. ET on the Golf Channel.