South Korea’s Ah Lim Kim shot a 4-under 68 to win the Lotte Championship held at Ewa Beach in Hawaii on Saturday.
Kim Byung-hyun entered the fourth and final round with a one-stroke lead and held off Natalya Guseva (Russia) with a two-stroke lead. Guseva shot a 3-under 69 at Hoakalei Country Club on Saturday, just shy of Kim’s 18-under 270.
This is Kim’s second career LPGA Tour title, with 25 birdies to match Lotte’s ace. Kim also won the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open.
“I think Hawaii is better and more comfortable for me, but when I got there, everything was new and it was very difficult to walk in the grass or read a book,” says Kim. said. “But it’s going to get better and easier from now on.”
Bogeys on the second par-4 and ninth par-3 holes on Saturday ultimately hurt Guseva. She had five birdies, including birdies at Nos. 11 and 13, but failed to become the first Russian golfer to win on the LPGA Tour.
“Of course, congratulations to A. Lim for a great game. I really tried my best there. I never gave up. I gave my 100 percent and more on every hole,” Guseva said. “It was fun. Golf is fun. The audience is fun.”
Auston Kim birdied four of the first six holes, then stalled with only one birdie remaining in a bogey-free round. She shared lower-round honors with Japan’s Nasa Hataoka, who also shot a 5-under 67.
Auston Kim came in third place, three strokes behind Ah Lim Kim, and Hataoka came in fourth, four strokes behind the leader.
Auston Kim said, “The back got really tough. I got off to a really hot start. I made a lot of good shots and really good putts on the front nine. After the ninth hole, my putter got a little cold.” “I just kept telling myself, ‘I’m hitting really good shots. I’m visualizing everything that feels good. Just keep giving myself opportunities.'”
Japan’s Ryan O’Toole (70) and Yuri Yoshida (69) tied for fifth place.
South Korea’s Jin Yong Ko (70) placed 7th, Lindy Duncan (68) placed 8th, and South Korea’s Kim Hyo Joo (69) and Angel In (69) placed 9th. .
–Field level media
