HONOLULU (AP) — Youmin Hwang captured her first LPGA Tour victory on Sunday at the LOTTE Championship, making a strong late surge to extend the season-opening streak without a repeat winner to 25 tournaments.
A member of the Korean LPGA, Hwang competed on a sponsor invite and finished with a 5-under 67 at breezy Hoakalei Country Club. She birdied the final four holes and five of the last six to secure a one-shot victory over Hyo Joo Kim.
“Thanks to LOTTE’s support, I can be here and win,” Hwang said.
At just 22 years old and a non-member of the LPGA Tour, Hwang now has the option to accept immediate membership or defer it until next season. This win came in her sixth career LPGA start and fourth event of the season, after having made the weekend cuts in major U.S. tournaments.
Hwang was tied for the lead with Kim and Minami Katsu after birdieing the par-4 17th, then gained an advantage when both Katsu and Kim bogeyed the same hole in the group behind her. On the par-5 18th, Hwang’s second shot went through the green into the rough, but she recovered with a chip to within a foot and tapped in for birdie.
She finished the tournament at 17-under 271.
Hwang started the week strong with a career-best 62 on Thursday, opening a three-stroke lead. However, she shot a 75 on Friday, which dropped her into a tie for second place, just one shot behind Akie Iwai. Kim closed with a 68 after birdieing the 18th hole, while Katsu finished third at 15 under following a 69.
Canada’s Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ontario, finished in a four-way tie for 28th at 7 under, 10 shots behind the winner. Fellow Canadian Alena Sharp of Hamilton tied for 57th at 1 under.
World No. 2 Nelly Korda ended with a 69 to finish three shots back at 17 under, alongside Peiyun Chien (70), Jessica Porvasnik (70), and Akie Iwai (71). Despite coming off a season with seven victories, Korda is yet to win this year.
“Overall, I’m putting myself into contention,” Korda said. “It’s definitely an interesting year for me result-wise, but at the end of the day, I’m giving it 100 percent, controlling what I can control, and I’m happy with that.”
The LPGA Tour now moves to Asia for the next five consecutive weeks, with tournaments scheduled in Shanghai, South Korea, Malaysia, and Japan.
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AP Golf: The Associated Press
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