ORLANDO, Fla. — A Lim Kim exhibited remarkable resilience in the face of strong competition from Nelly Korda, securing a two-shot victory at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions with a final score of 5-under 67. Kim’s performance featured three birdies in her last four holes during the tournament’s final round, affirming her dominance throughout the event.
Korda, who had an impressive seven-win season last year, put the pressure on by sinking a 3-foot birdie putt on the par-5 15th hole, which allowed her to tie for the lead. Kim, however, remained undaunted and answered with a birdie of her own, regaining her edge. A pivotal moment came when Kim made a superb 20-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole, creating a two-shot gap, and she sealed her victory with a lengthy 25-foot birdie on the 18th.
Reflecting on her thrilling performance, Kim expressed her excitement, stating, “So fun, so good. And then I’m hungry.” Meanwhile, Korda finished with a score of 65 at Lake Nona, marking a strong start for her season despite finishing as runner-up. She gracefully acknowledged her performance, saying, “I’m never going to complain finishing second in a tournament and giving it a run, especially on a Sunday.”
From Sweden, Linn Grant secured third place with a score of 69, finishing five strokes behind the leader. Notably, Minjee Lee garnered attention with an impressive score of 62, tying for fourth alongside Jin Young Ko, who shot a 65. Kim, a 29-year-old golfer from South Korea, now boasts three titles on the LPGA Tour, including her notable win at the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open during the pandemic.
Completing the event with a total score of 20-under 268, Kim walked away with a $300,000 prize. Korda and defending champion Lydia Ko started the final round four strokes off the lead, but Ko struggled early on with three bogeys in her first six holes, ultimately finishing sixth with a score of 70.
Korda, who recorded five birdies alongside two bogeys on the front nine, managed to tie for the lead momentarily with her 15th-hole birdie, but it proved short-lived as Kim swiftly responded. “I watched her scoreboard — ooh, make birdie, wow — and then focus again on my game,” Kim remarked, noting that she was aware of Korda’s progress but felt composed throughout.
In the celebrity division of the tournament, former NHL player Joe Pavelski excelled by scoring 36 points in the Stableford format, finishing five points ahead of Jeff McNeil from the New York Mets. The LPGA Tour will make its way to Florida once more for the Founders Cup at Bradenton Country Club next week, where Korda previously claimed victory during last year’s Drive On Championship.
