South Korea’s Kim captures LPGA season opener

AFP: MIAMI: South Korea’s Kim Hyo-joo captured her third career LPGA title on Sunday (31), firing a seven-under par 66 to win the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic at Paradise Island.

The 20-year-old rising Asian star charged to victory with two runs of three birdies in a row, finishing 72 holes on 18-under 274 to beat American Stacy Lewis, Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist and defending champion Kim Sei-young of South Korea by two strokes.

“My goal coming into today was top 10 but I’m really happy and really pleased to win,” Kim said through a translator.

Kim Hyo-joo

Kim won her first major title at the 2014 Evian Championship, an opening-round 61 helping her edge Australia’s Karrie Webb by a stroke in France, and added last year’s LPGA Founders Cup trophy.

Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum fired a 65 to match the tournament record and share fifth on 277 with American Paula Creamer and South Korea’s Lee Il-hee.

American Brittany Lincicome also shot a 65 to share eighth on 278 with South Korean Kwak Min-seo and English teenager Charley Hull.