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BELLEAIR, Florida – Sei Young Kim won the Pelican Women’s Championship on Sunday (Monday Manila time) for her second straight win, closing with a par 70 for a three-shot victory over Ally McDonald.
KPMG Women’s PGA winner on October 11 in her last outing, second-ranked Kim won for the 12th time on the LPGA Tour to break a tie for third on South Korea’s win list with Jiyai Shin, just behind Inbee Park. (20) and Se Ri Pak (25).
Kim was drenched in champagne during the victory celebration.
Bianca Pagdanganan highlighted her final round with an eagle-three at No. 7 at Pelican Golf Club.
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The 22-year-old Filipina also had one birdie and two bogeys for a total of 69 and 283, finishing tied with world No. 1 Jin Young Ko, Jenny Shin and Nasa Hataoka.
Shin shot an 8 and Hataoka shot a 69.
Ko finished 71 in his first LPGA Tour event of the year. No. 1 in the world for the past 68 weeks, he was at home in South Korea since the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Kim is close to taking first place.
“It means a lot because the No. 1 world ranking is my wish list for this year, so that’s my biggest goal this year,” Kim said. “Before, the Olympic gold medal was my biggest goal this year, but to cancel. It could be next year.”
“My friends put it on my head and then on my shirt and everything,” Kim said. “I feel like taking a shower in the champagne. I still smell. And then I drink a little and I feel, it feels, you know, like a little drunk.”
Kim, 27, is the first player to follow her first major win with a win at her next start since Ariya Jutanugarn in 2016 at the Women’s British Open and CP Women’s Open.
“Always after winning I always have the extra confidence, so when I play, standing on the golf course, I feel very happy when I walk,” said Kim, also a five-time KLPGA winner. “It’s really great.”
Kim finished at 14 under 266 at Pelican Golf Club in the freshman tournament originally scheduled for the same week as the PGA Championship in May. After his win last month at Aronimink in Pennsylvania, he made a trip to South Korea during the long break.
“After the tournament I just want to relax and then feel fresh, feel fresh, so don’t think about golf,” Kim said. “Just a fun thing to do.”
McDonald birdied the last for a 68. She was coming to a win at the Drive On Championship-Reynolds Lake Oconee in Georgia, her first on the tour.
“I’m very happy with how I played,” McDonald said. “I held on … So I’m very happy. Obviously after a win to get another second and be in the fight, that’s all I can ask for.”
Stephanie Meadow was third at 9-under after 69.
Lydia Ko (69) and Austin Ernst (68) were 8 under, and Brooke Henderson (69) was another blow back with Jessica Korda (64), Angela Stanford (65) and Jennifer Song (65).
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