Runner-up Finish After Playoff
Kim Hyoju finished as runner-up at the Chevron Championship, the first major tournament of the LPGA Tour season with a total prize fund of $8 million, following Saigo Mao, who won after a playoff.
On April 28 (Korean time), at The Club at Carlton Woods Jack Nicklaus Signature Course (par 72, 6,911 yards) in The Woodlands, Texas, Kim Hyoju carded a 2-under-par 70 in the final fourth round, recording three birdies and one bogey.
With a final total of 7-under-par 281, Kim Hyoju tied with Lin Ruoning (China), Ariya Jutanugarn (Thailand), Lindy Duncan (USA), and Saigo Mao (Japan). In the first playoff hole among the five tied players, Kim made par and finished as runner-up after Saigo, who secured a birdie.
This marks her third career top-10 finish at the event. Kim Hyoju has a total of seven LPGA Tour victories, including a win at the Ford Championship at the end of March.
In this round, Kim Hyoju started the day tied for 11th, four shots behind the co-leaders after three rounds. Although she stumbled with a bogey on the par-3 third hole, she regained momentum by making consecutive birdies on holes 6 through 8. However, due to the challenging pin positions, the wind, and uncooperative green conditions, she had to settle for pars on every hole after the eighth.
When she finished her round, Kim Hyoju was tied for third, but as the leaderboard continued to shift, she joined the five-way tie for the lead and advanced to the playoff. On the first playoff hole (par-5 18th), Kim calmly reached the green with her third shot, but her birdie putt drifted left, resulting in a par. Saigo then made a birdie to claim the championship trophy.
Saigo attempted to reach the green in two, but her ball landed in front of the stands beyond the green. She executed an excellent third shot to set up a birdie opportunity, which she converted to secure the win.
Saigo, who debuted on the LPGA Tour last year and won Rookie of the Year honors without a victory, celebrated her first win at a major tournament. The winner's prize is $1.2 million (approximately 1.72 billion KRW).
Yu Hae-ran, who had shared the lead through three rounds and was aiming for her first major victory, finished tied for sixth (5-under-par 283) after losing four strokes with one eagle, one birdie, and seven bogeys. Last year, Yu also struggled in the final round after entering as the sole leader, losing three shots through the fifth hole and finishing fifth. This year, she again faltered with four bogeys on holes 1 through 6 in the fourth round, leaving her disappointed. However, she found consolation when her chip shot from the rough behind the 18th green rolled in for an eagle.
Ko Jin-young reduced her score by two shots to join Yu in sixth place. Ko, who has not won on the LPGA Tour since the Cognizant Founders Cup in May 2023, has now recorded four top-10 finishes in eight tournaments this season.
Choi Hye-jin finished tied for ninth (4-under-par 284), making it four Korean players in the top 10.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda, who was aiming for her second straight win at the event, tied for 14th (2-under-par 286) along with Lexi Thompson (USA), Lee Minjee (Australia), and others. Jeon In-ji and Lee Mi-hyang were tied for 18th (1-under-par 287).
Kim Se-young and Lee Somi tied for 24th (even-par 288), Kim A-lim tied for 40th (3-over-par 291), and Yoon Ina and Yang Hee-young tied for 52nd (5-over-par 293).
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