Kim Hyo-joo narrowly missed a comeback victory at the LPGA Tour FM Championship, which had a total prize purse of $4.4 million.
On August 31, in Norton, Massachusetts, Kim shot a final round of 1-under 71, with three birdies and two bogeys, at TPC Boston (par 72).
With a total score of 12-under 276, Kim finished in solo second place, two strokes behind China's Yin Ruoning, who finished at 14-under 274. This marks Kim's second runner-up finish of the season, following her performance at the Dow Championship in June.
Having secured victories at the Founders Cup and the Ford Championship earlier this year, Kim aimed for her third win of the season and her 10th career title. However, she fell short of the championship.
Starting the day tied for second, one stroke behind the leader, Kim took the lead after making a birdie on the 10th hole (par 4), while Yin recorded a bogey on the same hole. The two players remained neck-and-neck until the 15th hole (par 4).
The turning point came on the 16th hole (par 3), where Kim made a three-putt bogey, allowing Yin to regain the lead. Kim's birdie attempt on the 17th hole (par 4) missed the mark, preventing her from closing the gap. On the final 18th hole (par 5), Kim's tee shot landed in the rough, and her second shot went into a bunker, but she managed to make par. Yin secured the championship with a birdie on the same hole.
This victory marks Yin's sixth career win on the tour, her first since the Maybank Championship in October 2024, with a winner's prize of $660,000 (approximately 910 million won).
Other South Korean players also performed well, with Kim Sei-young finishing tied for fourth at 10-under 278. Yoo Hae-ran, Lim Jin-hee, and Lee So-mi all finished tied for ninth at 8-under 280.
Additionally, Ahn Na-rin placed tied for 13th at 7-under 281, while Choi Hye-jin finished tied for 17th at 6-under 282, and Kang Min-ji ended tied for 27th at 3-under 285.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda of the United States finished tied for 50th at 1-over 289.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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