Hyo Joo Kim, who was second last year behind Sei Young Kim in Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year voting, captured the tournament that kicked off Sei Young Kim's award-winning season. With a closing 7-under-par 66 on Sunday at the Ocean Club Golf Course at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, Hyo Joo beat Sei Young, Anna Nordqvist and Stacy Lewis by two strokes to win the 4th Annual Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic.
With an 18-under 274 total, Kim, 20, of Kangwon-do, South Korea, won her third Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) title and took home $210,000 from the $1.4 million purse. She also collected 500 CME Globe points. The Race to the CME Globe is a season-long points competition in which LPGA members accumulate points in every official LPGA Tournament.
"My goal this week was finishing in the top 10, but finishing first is much better, and it makes me very happy," Kim, ranked No. 10 in the Rolex Women's World Golf Ranking, said through an interpreter, fellow competitor Minjee Lee.
Despite a double-bogey in each of the final two rounds, Sei Young Kim came close to defending her title, carding a 68 for a 16-under 276 total. Nordqvist, a third-round co-leader, shot a final round 69. Lewis, who opened with a 73, closed with a 68 and had to settle for her ninth runner-up finish since her last victory in the 2014 Northwest Arkansas Championship.
"I shot even par the first day and 16 under these last three days. I mean, that's playing some pretty good golf," said Lewis, who has had 12 top-3 finishes in her last 40 starts. "It's nothing to be disappointed about. Like I said yesterday, I'm so happy with the golf swing stuff finally coming together. I felt like I could go out there today and shoot 8 under and I didn't feel that last year. I just feel things are in a better place."
Kim had eight birdies against one bogey, which came at the par-4 16th on the final day. That turned a three-stroke lead into one when Lewis, playing in the group behind, birdied three holes in a row, but Kim stepped up to the par-3 17th and hit a 4-iron to within five feet to restore a two-stroke advantage. Lewis missed a 20-foot birdie try at 17 and then settled for par at 18.
"I knew I was ahead like couple shots, so I just wanted to maintain the lead and just play smart golf," said Kim, who two years ago as a non-member won the Evian Championship. "I'm really happy to win here because it's just like a really good start to my season and, obviously, good vibes, I guess."
Ilhee Lee, who won the inaugural Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic, began the day two back, but didn't make enough birdies on Sunday. Her 68 left her tied for fifth at 15-under 277 with Paula Creamer, who shot 66, and Pornanong Phatlum, who shot a 65. Pure Silk ambassador Brittany Lincicome finished tied for eighth at 14-under 278 with Charley Hull and Seo Min Kwak. Hull, who led after each of the first three rounds, could only manage a 71 in the final round. Kwak shot a 67.
Jessica Korda, the 2014 champion, closed with a 67 for 9-under 283, and was tied for 21st. Among others at 283 was Brittany Altomare, who was second to Christine Song in the Monday qualifier with a 68. Song, whose 64 on Monday set the course record, ended up tied for 72nd at 1-over 293.
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