South Korea’s Kim In-kyung fired a seven-under par 65 on Sunday to capture the LPGA State Farm Classic, winning her second career tour title by one stroke over compatriot Pak Se-ri.
Kim, whose previous triumph came in last year’s Longs Drugs Challenge, finished on 17-under par 271, edging five-time major winner Pak. Koreans Han Hee-won and Lee Jee-young and Angela Stanford of the US shared third on 273.
“I just feel great. I’m very excited to win this week,” Kim said.
PHOTO: AFP
Kim opened with a birdie on the par-5 first, added back-to-back birdies at the par-3 fifth and par-5 sixth before a bogey at seven which she answered with a short birdie putt on the eighth.
A four-under run on the back nine brought Kim the triumph, with short birdies at the par-4 11th, the par-5 13th and 18th and par-3 17th holes.
“I saw all that was happening in front of me, what Se-ri was doing,” Kim said. “I needed a birdie at 16 to tie her. At 17, I had a good chance to make birdie, that was the moment I felt I had a chance.”
PHOTO: AP
Pak opened with three birdies and sandwiched two more at six and eight around her lone birdie of the round. She matched Kim with birdies on 13 and 16 but fell one stroke short of her first title since 2007.
Except for world No.1 Lorena Ochoa of Mexico, the top 50 money winners were playing this week, preparing for next week’s second women’s major, the LPGA Championship.
“This tournament means a lot to me, playing with all the great players that all played this week,” Kim said. “I feel really special.
“I’ve really worked hard on my game. I’m more confident. I trust myself more on the golf course and I don’t have to worry about other things. It’s going the right way. I’m very pleased,” she said.
Defeating Pak, who inspired the younger wave of South Koreans that are now a major force in LPGA events, made the victory sweet as well for Kim, twice a runner-up this season.
“She definitely opened the door for all the Korean players and we really look up to her,” Kim said.
Taiwan’s Amy Hung finished joint-sixth after a final round of 68 with compatriot Yani Tseng joint-15th.
■DANE EARNS SHOCK WIN
AFP, CHRISTCHURCH, WALES
Denmark’s Jeppe Huldahl, without a top 10 finish in his career and ranked a lowly 377th, emerged as the surprise winner of the Wales Open at Celtic Manor on Sunday.
The unheralded 26-year-old from Copenhagen captured his first ever Tour win in his sixth season as a professional with a final round four-under par 67 for a nine under par total of 275.
The winner’s prize money of £300,000 (US$477,000) was almost 30 times more than his previous biggest cheque on the circuit.
“It feels amazing,” Huldahl said. “I couldn’t feel my hands the last three holes. I knew I was doing well, but I didn’t know how well until I asked my caddie on the 18th tee.”
“He told me I needed a par — and it’s nice to have a par five and have a chance to lay up. But I couldn’t put winning out of my head and it was quite emotional,” he said.
Second was Swede Niclas Fasth who finished on eight under, with Ryder Cup partner, Spaniard Ignacio Garrido, third on seven under after double-bogeying at the 16th.
Halfway leader Richie Ramsay, meanwhile, finished tied for 10th after a weekend the Scot will not forget in a hurry.
After two-hour talks with officials late on Saturday night he escaped a two-stroke penalty over an incident on the eighth when he pressed the turf behind his ball to test for casual water.
On Sunday he was in trouble again, seeing his par five on the last turned into a six because of the way he took relief on the fairway.
“I didn’t sleep because I was concerned about what people might think and my head was in a bit of a spin,” said the Tour rookie, who during his US Amateur victory three years ago lost two holes over rules matters.
■LANGER TAKES TITLE
AP, LAKEWAY, TEXAS
Bernhard Langer shot a final-round 67 on Sunday and cruised to a six-shot victory over Mark O’Meara in the Triton Financial Classic.
Langer finished at 15-under 201 on The Hills Country Club course.
O’Meara shot a final-round 70, while Dana Quigley finished with a 69 to finish another shot back.
It was Langer’s third Champions Tour victory of the season and sixth overall in less than two years. He was the leading money winner and Player of the Year on the Champions Tour last year.
His win on Sunday was the largest margin of victory on the Champions Tour this year, and he became the first wire-to-wire winner this season.
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