In Kyung Kim wins Longs Drugs
BY Bruce Young | LPGA Tour | 2008 Longs Drugs Challenge | Round Four | 13 Oct 2008
It was yet another Korean and another first time winner on the LPGA Tour. 20-year-old In-Kyung Kim joined a very long and increasing list today when she won her first LPGA Tour event in her second season, the Longs Drugs Challenge in Danville, California by three shots over Angela Stanford with a further shot back to Yani Tseng.
Kim was the leading qualifier at the 2006 LPGA Tour School and was runner-up in the rookie of the year race last year to Angela Park.
Kim held a narrow one shot advantage over the in-form Stanford heading into today’s final round and although she struggled early in her round, so did her nearest rivals. Nobody could mount the challenge necessary to put the pressure needed on the youngster. She nearly self destructed with bogeys at the 14th and 16th but Stanford would also bogey those same two holes. Kim managed to birdie the final two holes including a lengthy birdie at the 72nd to secure the victory.
It was an emotional Kim after the victory who discussed the pressure she had been under and just how much she wanted the win this week.
“I could hardly sleep last night,” she said after her round, referring to the nerves and excitement she was experiencing.
Yani Tseng continues her brilliant rookie season, her third place cheque taking her earnings to almost US$1.55 million.
Sarah Kemp was the best of the Australians but the LPGA Tour rookie will rue the shots she dropped in her final round of 77. With only next week’s event in Hawaii and Lorena Ochoa’s event in Mexico in which she is likely to get a start her chances of improving her position on the money list are limited. Kemp finished 13th this week and will move to 118th or so on the money list.
Wendy Doolan was 23rd and Rachel Hetherington 63rd amongst the remaining Australians.
