Kim A-lim held off a problem from world primary Nelly Korda to win the LPGA’s season-opening Match of Champions in Florida.
The 2020 US Ladies’s Open winner from South Korea had led after every of the opening three rounds at Lake Buena Vista, Orlando, and held a three-shot benefit over Sweden’s Linn Grant earlier than Sunday’s last spherical.
American Korda was an extra shot adrift however her seven-under-par spherical of 65, which included 9 birdies, together with one on the 18th, moved her to inside one shot of Kim who nonetheless had a gap to play.
However the 29-year-old held her nerve to gather her seventh birdie of the day, signing for a 67 to win by two photographs.
“As we speak it was not my focus. I do not care,” Kim mentioned of Korda’s strain.
“It is a good begin however that is all. I’ll deal with the subsequent match after which focus once more on my recreation.”
It’s Kim’s third profession LPGA title, and a second in three months following her victory on the Lotte Championship in November.
Grant completed third at 15 below – one shot forward of Australian Minjee Lee and Kim’s compatriot Ko Jin-young, whereas defending champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand was an extra shot again.
The match options the LPGA discipline taking part in alongside celebrities, athletes and amateurs, with former US ice hockey participant Joe Pavelski topping that discipline – forward of New York Mets star Jeff McNeil and former baseball participant Mark Mulder.
