The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunmedia.net

The 2016 season got started with Hyo Joo Kim winning her third career title in a keenly contested finish in the fourth Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Golf Classic on Sunday.

It came down to the final two holes as Hyo Joo held on to the lead to snatch a two-stroke 7-under-par 66 to put the icing on her four-day total of 274 that earned her a hefty cash pay cheque of $210,000 and 500 CME Globe points.

The South Korean, who is coming off her triumph in the JTBC Founders Cup championship to go along with her initial victory in 2014 at the Evian Championships, was more than thrilled to pull off another title.

“My goal this week was finishing in the top 10, but finishing first is much better, and it makes me very happy,” Kim, ranked No. 10 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking, said through an interpreter, fellow competitor Minjee Lee.

In the process, Hyo Joo Kim dethroned Sei Young Kim, who had to settle for a three-way tie for second with American Stacy Lewis and Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist, all with a 16-under-par 276 as they pocketed $96,975 each for their effort.

A total of $1.4 million was up for grabs in the tournament.

The victory was even sweeter for Hyo Joo Kim, who lost out to Sei Young Kim in the Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year voting last year.

Minjee Lee said Hyo Joo Kim looked at the leaderboard when she was walking up on the last hole, but she already knew that she had two shots in between her and Stacy. She knew that on the last hole you can get on in two, so she was a little nervous coming up.

Lewis, who opened up with a 73, turned things around as she closed out her appearance this week with a 68. She ended up getting her ninth runner-up finish since her last victory in the 2014 Northwest Arkansas Championship. That same year, Lewis had to settle for runner-up to Jessica Korda, the second champion of the history books of the Pure Silk Bahamas Tournament.

“I shot even par the first day and 16 under these last three days. I mean, that’s playing some pretty good golf,” said Lewis, who has had 12 top-3 finishes in her last 40 starts, but came so close to pulling off her 12th career-win.

“It’s nothing to be disappointed about. Like I said yesterday, I’m so happy with the golf swing stuff finally coming together. I felt like I could go out there today and shoot 8 under and I didn’t feel that last year. I just feel things are in a better place.”

Despite a double-bogey in each of the final two rounds, Sei Young Kim missed the opportunity to defend her title. She turned in a 68 to close out, but it wasn’t enough to get back to the top spot where she was last year. She had eight birdies and one bogey that helped to keep her in contention.

Ilhee Lee, who won the inaugural Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic, began the day two back, but didn’t make enough birdies on Sunday. She shot a 68 for a tie for fifth at 15-under 277 with Paula Creamer, who shot 66, and Pornanong Phatlum, who tied the course record with a 65. They all carried home $47,929,000.

Pure Silk ambassador Brittany Lincicome also tied the course record in finishing in a group tied for eighth at 14-under 278 with Charley Hull and Seo Min Kwak. Hull, who led after each of the first three rounds, could only manage a 71. Kwak shot 67. For their efforts, they collected $31,224,000.

Jessica Korda, the 2014 champion, finished with a 67 for her 9-under 283 and a tie for 21st with six others to take home $13,849.00.

Cheyenne Woods, the niece of legendary golfer Tiger Woods, made her debut with a 78th place for $2,516.00.

Georgette Rolle, the only Bahamian playing in the tournament, didn’t make the cut after she got eliminated on the first two days of the main draw with her rounds of 82 and 85 for a total of 167.

SEE THE FULL STORY ON GEORGETTE ROLLE IN TUESDAY SPORTS