March 29, 2024

LPGA Tour: Ko Triumphs Again in South Korea

 LPGA Tour: Ko Triumphs Again in South Korea

New Zealander Lydia Ko won her 18th LPGA Tour title this week at the BMW Ladies Championship in Wonju, South Korea. With the win, her second of the season, the South Korean-born Ko has now finished in the top five in 9 of her last 12 starts on tour.

Ko made three straight birdies on holes 15 through 17 to get to 21-under par, where she finished, four strokes better than second place finisher Andrea Lee. With the win, Ko becomes the fifth multiple winner on tour this season joining Atthaya Thitikul, Brooke Henderson, Minjee Lee, and Jennifer Kupcho.

Thitikul started the day with a one-stroke lead on Ko and the field, but she could manage only a 2-over 74 on Sunday, dropping her into solo sixth place. Consolation for the 19-year-old Thai Thitikul, is that she’ll move into #1 in the Rolex World Rankings on Monday, replacing Jin Young Ko, who continues to battle an injured wrist and was forced to withdraw from play Friday in her native country.

Lee’s second place finish on the back of her bogey-free final round 69 marks her fourth top five finish of the season, which includes her first career LPGA Tour victory at the AmazingCre Portland Classic in September.

Two South Koreans, Hye-Jin Choi and Hyo Joo Kim, joined Epson Tour graduate and former UCLA star Lilia Vu in a tie for third at 16-under.

The LPGA Tour takes next week off before playing the Toto Japan Classic in Shiga, Japan from November 3-6.