It’s been 10 years since 22-year old Sei Young Kim had dreamt of the exact moment of hoisting an LPGA Tour trophy. The 2015 LPGA Tour rookie beat major champion Sun Young Yoo and fellow rookie Ariya Jutanugarn in a one-hole playoff at the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic. Kim becomes the first Rolex First-Time Winner of the season and adds the victory to her five career KLPGA wins.
“It’s definitely a dream,” said Kim. “I’m really happy. Since 10 years ago it’s what I’ve dreamed of.”
Kim finished the third round on Sunday morning with a 1-under 72 and started the final round on at 9-under par and two shots off the third-round leaders, Sun Young Yoo and Inbee Park
.
She birdied three of her first five holes to jump up the leaderboard before her only bogey of the round on the par 4 8th hole. Kim said she didn’t look at a single leaderboard all day until the 18th tee. Heading into the final hole, Kim was 13-under par with Yoo and Jutanugarn in the clubhouse at 14-under par. A chip from the front greenside rough to three feet set up a birdie putt to earn a spot in the playoff.
Kim has been no stranger to playoffs in her professional career and played in five during her five-year career on the KLPGA, winning four of them. She said she didn’t feel nervous on the 18th tee to start the playoff but started to feel the pressure standing over her final four-foot birdie putt.
“Just before the last putt I was super nervous, but I was fine,” said Kim.
Kim becomes the second-consecutive South Korean to win this year on the LPGA Tour, joining compatriot Na Yeon Choi as winners to open the 2015 season.
“It’s definitely a dream,” said Kim. “I’m really happy. Since 10 years ago it’s what I’ve dreamed of.”
Kim finished the third round on Sunday morning with a 1-under 72 and started the final round on at 9-under par and two shots off the third-round leaders, Sun Young Yoo and Inbee Park
.
She birdied three of her first five holes to jump up the leaderboard before her only bogey of the round on the par 4 8th hole. Kim said she didn’t look at a single leaderboard all day until the 18th tee. Heading into the final hole, Kim was 13-under par with Yoo and Jutanugarn in the clubhouse at 14-under par. A chip from the front greenside rough to three feet set up a birdie putt to earn a spot in the playoff.
Kim has been no stranger to playoffs in her professional career and played in five during her five-year career on the KLPGA, winning four of them. She said she didn’t feel nervous on the 18th tee to start the playoff but started to feel the pressure standing over her final four-foot birdie putt.
“Just before the last putt I was super nervous, but I was fine,” said Kim.
Kim becomes the second-consecutive South Korean to win this year on the LPGA Tour, joining compatriot Na Yeon Choi as winners to open the 2015 season.
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