South Korea's Kim A-lim triumphed at the Lotte Championship in Hawaii with a composed final-round performance, securing her second career LPGA title following her 2020 U.S. Open victory. Kim posted a four-under-par 68 at the Hoakalei Country Club in Ewa Beach, finishing at 18-under for the tournament and winning by two strokes over Russian rookie Nataliya Guseva, who shot a solid 69 to claim the runner-up position at 16-under.
The 29-year-old Kim started the final round with a one-shot lead over Guseva but encountered early adversity with a bogey at the par-four second hole. This misstep momentarily opened the door for Guseva, who birdied the first hole but similarly faltered with a bogey at the second, maintaining the tension at the top of the leaderboard. Despite her rocky start, Kim remained composed. "It did not really go well to be honest at the beginning," Kim admitted. "I just told myself I'm going to do what I set out to do. I just trusted myself."
Kim's confidence paid off as she responded with an impressive series of birdies, scoring three in a four-hole stretch to regain her rhythm and momentum. A three-putt bogey at the par-four eighth momentarily dropped her into a tie with the 21-year-old Guseva, but Kim remained focused. Guseva’s own struggles surfaced when she bogeyed the par-three ninth, giving Kim a slight edge that she carried through the back nine.
The decisive moment came at the 18th hole when Kim sealed her victory with a confident birdie. Her celebratory smile hinted at the satisfaction of a job well done and the joy of having rediscovered her winning form. Notably, Kim’s tournament highlights included a memorable hole-in-one during Friday’s third round, which added a spark to her impressive week. “It was super fun. On the course, I feel like it was more fun. I haven't felt this way in a long time,” she said, reflecting on the tournament.
Guseva, making waves as a rookie after advancing through qualifying school, put up a spirited challenge and expressed her pride despite falling short of the win. “I really did my best out there. I never gave up. Every hole I gave just my 100 percent and more than that,” said Guseva, who was aiming to become the first Russian champion in LPGA Tour history.
Auston Kim of the U.S. rounded out the top three, finishing third at 15-under after a closing round of 67. The tournament underscored Kim A-lim’s resilience and showcased the exciting talent emerging in women’s golf.
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