Kim Sei-young claimed her first LPGA victory in five years with a dominant four-stroke win on home soil at the BMW Ladies Championship on Sunday.
The 32-year-old led from the first round through to the final putt at Pine Beach Golf Links on South Korea’s southwestern coast, holding off Japan’s Nasa Hataoka to secure her 13th career LPGA title – and her first in South Korea.
Kim began the day with a four-shot cushion but briefly opened the door with a bogey on the 3rd. She quickly reasserted control, firing six birdies – including three in a row – to card a five-under-par 67 and finish comfortably ahead of the chasing pack.
The win marks Kim’s first LPGA title since 2020, the year she won the Women’s PGA Championship and was named LPGA Player of the Year. It also set a new record for the Tour, with 27 different winners this season.
Hataoka mounted a late challenge with four birdies over the closing five holes, but Kim’s lead proved insurmountable.
American Yealimi Noh, who started the round tied for second with Hataoka, slipped to a share of fifth alongside defending champion Hannah Green of Australia.
South Korea’s Kim A-lim and France’s Celine Boutier tied for third, six shots behind the winner.
South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai carded 67 to finish on 11 under to share 31st position.
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Photo: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
Article Link: Kim Sei-young ends five-year LPGA title drought