A Lim Kim Wins Lotte Championship
A Lim Kim Wins Lotte Championship, claiming her second LPGA title nearly four years after her first win at the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open. Played at Hoakalei Country Club in Oahu, Hawaii, Kim led most of the way, finishing with a final round of 4-under 68 to complete the tournament at 18 under par. Her closest competition, Russian rookie Nataliya Guseva, finished two shots back, while American rookie Auston Kim came in three shots behind.
With this win, Kim secures her spot in the CME Group Tour Championship, jumping from No. 65 to No. 22 in the rankings. The victory was also a financial milestone for the 29-year-old, marking her first official $1 million season. Her initial $1 million prize from the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open was not counted toward her official career earnings, making this a meaningful accomplishment in her career.The championship battle was close all week. Kim started strong, leading after the first round and holding a share of the lead through 36 holes. By Saturday, she had a one-shot advantage over Guseva, though other competitors, including Hataoka, O’Toole, and Auston Kim, stayed close behind.
Throughout the final round, the competition remained tight. Guseva was the only real challenger in the final nine holes, as others struggled to catch up. Auston Kim’s momentum slowed with a string of pars, and Hataoka made bogeys on her last two holes. O’Toole played the back nine at even par, keeping her from closing in on the lead.
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With birdies on holes 11 and 13, Guseva narrowed Kim’s lead to just one stroke. On the par-5 18th, both players had chances, but Guseva’s third shot ended in the rough, forcing her to attempt an ambitious chip-in that narrowly missed. Kim, with a strong 335-yard drive aided by the wind, placed her second shot near the hole, allowing her to secure a birdie and the victory.
