Kim Hyoju "Regretful, Tied 3rd by 2 Strokes"... Henderson "I am the Evian Champ"

Amundi Evian Championship Final Day 4 Under Par, Schubert 2nd, Ko Jin-young, Korda, Yoo So-yeon, Kim Se-young Tied 8th

Kim Hyo-joo is hitting an iron shot on the 13th hole on the final day of the Amundi Evian Championship. Evian-les-Bains, France - Photo by Getty Images/Multibits

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ‘Lotte Championship champ’ Kim Hyo-joo (27) finished in the ‘Top 3’.

In the early morning of the 25th (Korean time) at the Evian Golf Club (par 71, 6,527 yards) in Evian-les-Bains, France, the final day of the fourth major of the 2022 LPGA Tour season, the Amundi Evian Championship (total prize money $6.5 million), Kim posted a 4-under-par round to finish tied for 3rd place (15-under-par 269). She aimed for her first major title in eight years since 2014 but settled for her fifth ‘Top 10’ finish of the season. Kim Hyo-joo secured her first win of the season and her fifth career victory at the Lotte Championship last April.

Starting tied for 6th place, six strokes behind the leader, Kim collected five birdies (one bogey). After consecutive birdies on holes 6 and 7, she took a brief breather with a bogey on the 8th hole (par 3), then made ‘stepping stone birdies’ on holes 12 and 14. On the final 18th hole (par 5), her eagle putt just missed the hole, resulting in a birdie. She relied on precise shots, missing the fairway and green only three times each. However, it was disappointing that she recorded as many as 30 putts during the round.

Brook Henderson is teeing off on the 1st hole on the final day of the Amundi Evian Championship. Evian-les-Bains, France = Getty Images / Multivitz

Brooke Henderson (Canada) secured the victory by one stroke with a birdie on the 18th hole, finishing at 17-under-par 267. This was her second win of the season following last month’s ShopRite Classic, her 12th career victory, and the winner’s prize was $1 million (1.3 billion KRW). Sophia Schubert (USA) finished 2nd at 16-under-par 268, Lydia Ko (New Zealand) and Mao Saigo (Japan) tied for 3rd, and ‘Number 3’ Nelly Korda (USA) tied for 8th at 13-under-par 271. Defending champion Minjee Lee (Australia) finished tied for 43rd at 3-under-par 281.

Korea’s ‘Number 1’ Ko Jin-young (27) shot 2-under-par to finish tied for 8th. Yoo So-yeon (32), who was 2 strokes behind in 2nd place the previous day and hoped for a comeback, lost 2 strokes and dropped to tied 8th. Kim Sei-young (29) was also in this group. Yang Hee-young (33) finished tied for 19th at 10-under-par 274, while ‘KPMG Women’s Champ’ Jeon In-ji (28) and Choi Hye-jin (23) tied for 22nd at 9-under-par 275. Korea’s ‘domestic Number 1’ Park Min-ji (24) lost one stroke and ended the tournament tied for 37th at 6-under-par 278.