Gina Kim and Yana Wilson secured a two-shot victory at the Dow Championship, earning both players their maiden LPGA Tour titles.
The American pair entered the final round of the circuit’s unique team event, held at Midland Country Club, a shot adrift South Korean duo Hye-Jin Choi and Hyo Joo Kim, the overnight leaders. Gina Kim made the first big move after her eagle at the 5th helped her team move to the top of the leaderboard. Choi and Hyo Joo Kim soon hit back with their second straight birdie at the 8th, but Gina Kim and Wilson moved back in front once more thanks to a birdie at the 10th.
Wilson stretched her team’s lead with a birdie at the 14th, an advantage which grew to three shots thanks to another birdie from Wilson at the 17th. Choi and Hyo Joo Kim managed to cut the gap down to two but it was too little too late as the duo made par at the last to card an 8-under 62, finish on 17 under, and take home their first LPGA Tour titles.
“I haven’t been in a leading position for a long time,” Wilson said, the 19-year-old rookie who became the youngest winner in the tournament’s history. “Even as a team, I feel like both of us haven’t been in this leading position.
“We walked down 18 just now and we were like: ‘Does this feel weird to you? Like this is so weird.’
“So it’s a little nervy out there. I feel like we handled it really well.”
For Kim, the win marks her fifth professional victory having claimed victories on the Epson Tour.
“Part of the reason I asked Yana to be my partner is we actually played in the final group on Epson and we’ve played together numerous times,” Gina Kim said. “So, I knew she was really, really good under pressure and I trusted her.”
Defending champions Somi Lee and Jin Hee Im finished three behind in a tie for third on 14 under alongside American duo Alison Lee and Lilia Vu.
America’s Nelly Korda, coming off a win at the U.S. Women’s Open and back-to-back major titles, finished in a share for 17th on eight under with teammate Olivia Cowan.
What is the next event?
The next event on the LPGA Tour schedule is the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give taking place between 18-21 June at Blythefield Country Club in Michigan.