Hyo-Joo Kim lived up to her billing at the Aramco Team Series – Korea as the home favourite put on a show to win by three shots in Seoul.
Leading by two shots heading into the final round, the Major winner held off Charley Hull‘s Sunday surge carding a round of 68 to end the week on 10-under par.
Playing alongside Hull and recent winner Mariajo Uribe from Colombia, Kim with given extra breathing room on the opening par-4 1st when both her opponents dropped shots. A Sunday shootout soon looked on the cards as Hull lit things up on the front nine making five birdies in seven holes before the turn. Kim responded with birdies of her own on the 5th and 7th – the latter one of the shots of the day on the picturesque par-3 – to lead by one shot.
The birdies would dry up for Hull on the back-nine, however, as Kim shut the door making birdies on the 14th, 16th, and 17th to the delight of her fan club, the shooting stars, watching on.
Despite missing the green on the 18th, the world No 12 was still able to three putt to seal a classy three shot victory, her second on the LET after she won the co-sanctioned Evian Championship – her only Major win to date – in 2014.
Kim said: “My performances up to this point this season has been disappointing, so ending the tournament in Korea on a positive note feels like a turning point for me. I feel confident and energised to perform well in upcoming tournaments like the US Open and the Olympics.”
HULL CHALKS UP ANOTHER RUNNER’S UP FINISH
Hull took solo second place on seven-under par after matching Kim’s final round score to record yet another runner-up finish on the LET.
She said: “It’s a tricky course, and the greens are tough, and there’s not many positions you can put the pins in – they’re very slopey, so you have to hit it in the right sides.”
“But I played really well today and I’m really happy with the round. Hoo-Jyo [Kim] kind of run away with it in the end, and she holed some great putts for birdie. I’m happy with the week overall, but it’s hard when you don’t win and you’re second again.”
Uribe and South Africa’s Casandra Alexander tied for third on five-under – the latter posting the round of the day to continue her excellent run in the Aramco Team Series.
The early morning session also saw the conclusion of the team event, as Team Kang, led by Danielle Kang, claimed the title with a score of 23 under par from Team Uribe.
The Aramco Team Series presented by PIF will next head to London from 3-5 July, with the strong field set to be announced soon.