Kim wins fifth LPGA title in extra time

Korea’s Sei Young Kim captured her fifth Tour title with a nerveless birdie at the first play-off hole of the Meijer LPGA Classic.

The 23-year-old collected her second win of the season with a superb wedge approach from rough that settled just three feet from the hole and she duly converted for the birdie and the win over Spain’s Carlota Ciganda.

Sei Young Kim celebrates after holing the winning putt at the Meijer LPGA Classic.
PHOTO: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images.

“It was 109 meters to the pin,” Kim explained. “It was a lot of release so I just had 90 metres. I did, it worked.”

Both Kim and Ciganda drove the ball in the left rough on the first extra hole. Ciganda played first and sent her approach long and left setting and failed to get up-and-down for par the stage for Kim.

“Only one can win and obviously I hit it to the rough, it wasn’t an easy shot and she hit a really good one,” Ciganda said. “So I mean congratulations to her and she was better.”

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After birdies at the 5th, 8th, 11th and 14th holes, Kim blotted her scorecard at the 18th hole with a bogey, which she thought was still good enough for the win, only to be shocked to find out she was headed for a playoff.

“Before playoff I felt like already win but I didn’t check the leaderboard,” Kim said. “Then I thought the ceremony was already.”

After she signed her card, Kim was greeted by an LPGA rules official who told her she would be heading back to the 18th tee to compete in the playoff with Ciganda.

Kim was able to shake off the shock and improve to a perfect three wins from three playoffs on the LPGA Tour.

Minjee Lee started strongly but faded over the weekend.
PHOTO: Leon Halip/Getty Images.

“I just angry on myself, yeah,” Kim said of her leaderboard error. “I just say, I have to bounce back because today before I play, I setting my goal no bogey play but last one I missed with bogey. If I bounce back, yeah, it is a good work, so I did it well today.”

Korea’s In Gee Chun finished with an even par 71 to fall two strokes short of a play-off spot, while World No.1 Lydia Ko and defending champion Lexi Thompson were a further shot back at 14 under.

West Australian Minjee Lee opened the event strongly with back-to-back rounds of 67 to sit entrenched in the top-10. But weekend scores of 73-72 saw her drop to T25 at five under. Queensland’s Sarah Jane Smith was a further three strokes back T50.