HYO JOO KIM won for the second straight week on the LPGA Tour 鈥 and for the second straight week, she fended off Nelly Korda to do so.
The native of South Korea posted a final-round, 3-under-par 69 to finish 28-under 260 and successfully defend her title at the Ford Championship on Sunday in Chandler, Arizona.
Kim alternated 61s and 69s over the four days at Whirlwind Golf Club鈥檚 Cattail Course. A double-bogey 6 on the eighth hole and a bogey at the par-4 16th weren鈥檛 enough to stop Kim, who posted three birdies on each side of her card.
Kim set the LPGA鈥檚 54-hole scoring record on Saturday but came up three shots shy of tying the tour鈥檚 72-hole scoring record of 257 (Sei Young Kim, 2017).
World No. 2 Korda made two eagles in her round of 67 鈥 at the par-5 second and 17th holes 鈥 but settled for runner-up again at 26 under. Last week, Kim edged Korda by one shot at the Fortinet Founders Cup.
Korda followed her second eagle with a birdie at No. 18 for a late push, but Kim made her par to cement the two-stroke win.
Kim, 30, has called Korda her favorite player and praised her playing partner after the battle.
Minami Katsu of Japan posted a 65 and placed third at 23 under. New Zealand鈥檚 Lydia Ko, who opened the tournament with a 60, shot 68 on Sunday and settled for fourth at 20 under.
In Gee Chun of South Korea (68) rounded out the top five at 19 under. 鈥 Reuters
