By: Max Bechtoldt
A Lim Kim was dominant all week on her way to a two-stroke victory over Nataliya Guseva at the Lotte Championship.
Kim was solid once again Sunday, doing what she needed to in order to secure the victory over a deep pool of challengers. After a -1 front nine that included two bogeys, she was perfect on the back shooting -3 with birdies on 10, 11 and 18.
The approach game was the key for Kim in the final round hitting 15 greens, leading her to good opportunities on the greens. For the week she hit 54/72 greens, and needed just 108 putts.
This was Kim’s first win since her 2020 victory at the U.S. Women’s Open, which was competed in December of that season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kim is also a three-time winner on the KLPGA.
With the win, Kim has now moved firmly into the CME Group Tour Championship in two weeks, as she vaulted up the rankings 43 spots to No. 22 in the newest standings.
Also making a big move was Guseva, who was in the top 60 entering the week, but made her spot significantly more comfortable with the highest finish of her career. She moved up 26 spots from No. 51 to No. 25.
Finally, long-hitting rookie Auston Kim, who finished in third place, didn’t jump into the top 60, but her 15-spot rise puts her at No. 64 heading into the last qualifying event of the year, with a good chance to punch her ticket to Naples. She also moved up to No. 6 in the Rookie of the Year rankings.
Next week, the LPGA is back where the season began, in Florida for The Annika Presented by Gainbridge. Stay tuned to Fore-All.com for coverage of the last week of the LPGA Tour regular season.
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