HONOLULU — Lim Kim won the Lotte Championship on Saturday for her second LPGA Tour title, closing with a 4-under 68 for a two-stroke victory over compatriot Nataliya Guseva.
“It’s so much fun,” said Kim. “I feel very happy in lessons. It was very fun. I haven’t felt this way in a long time.”
A stroke ahead of Guseva entering the day at the breezy Hoakalei Country Club, Kim finished the six-hole race with a birdie on the 5th 18th.
“Actually, my focus is always the same,” Kim said. “Don’t focus on the result. Focus on my process and it’s routine and I think and I choose my line and I go.”
The 29-year-old South Korean jumped from 65th to 22nd in the Race to CME Globe to earn a spot in the 60-player season finale that pays $4 million to the winner. She won the US Women’s Open in December 2020.
“I was sure I would make it to CME, so I didn’t think too much.” Kim said.
Guseva was trying to become the first Russian winner in LPGA Tour history. The 21-year-old former Miami player split the final five holes in a 69.
“Obviously, congratulations to A Lim for a great game,” said Guseva. “I did my best out there. I never gave up. Every hole I gave it my 100% and more.”
Kim finished at 18-under 270.
Auston Kim was third at 15-under 67.
“It’s been a long year,” Auston Kim said. “Lots of great courses and tough times, but I’m really proud to bounce back after a tough few weeks and be able to play some really solid golf.”
Nasa Hataoka (67) is back, while fellow Japanese players Yuri Yoshida (69) and Ryann O’Toole (70) were 13 under.
Angela Stanford closed with a 71 to tie for 26 at 5 under in what could be her final LPGA Tour event. The 46-year-old Texan has seven touring cars.
“I didn’t feel bad until I looked at my scorecard,” Stanford said. “I said when I come in today I want to be me, I want to play my game. I hit every green on the back nine. Throughout my career my iron game is what I relied on, so this kind of brought me to tears. .”
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