Choi Hye-jin, paired with Kim Hyo-joo, once again failed to capture her first career victory on the U.S. LPGA Tour.
Kim Hyo-joo and Choi Hye-jin shot a 5-under 65 with five birdies and no bogeys in the final round of the Dow Championship (total prize money of $3.3 million), a two-player team event held Sunday at Midland Country Club (par 70) in Midland, Michigan.
Finishing at a total of 15-under 265, Kim and Choi had to settle for second place. Gina Kim and Yana Wilson (both U.S., final total of 17-under 263), who cut a remarkable eight strokes that day, came from behind to win by two strokes.
The Dow Championship features two players paired as a team, with the first and third rounds played in foursomes, where the two players alternate hitting a single ball, and the second and fourth rounds played in four-balls, where the two players each play their own ball and the better score counts as the team's score.
It was a tournament filled with regret for Kim and Choi. They began the fourth round as the outright leaders by one stroke but could not hold off the relentless charge of Kim and Wilson.
Kim, a Korean American whose parents are Korean, claimed her first victory since making her LPGA Tour debut in 2022, while Wilson, who debuted on the LPGA Tour this season, also tasted the joy of her maiden win in her ninth event.
The tournament awards each of the two winners $805,381 (about 1.22 billion won). The winning prize per player is just over 600 million won.
Gina Kim said, "It was a really fun week. There were tough moments, but it was great to overcome them with a good partner." She added, "This is a turning point that will change my life. I had missed the cut three times in a row through the previous tournament, but this win turned things around."
Lee So-mi and Im Jin-hee, who won last year, finished tied for third at 14-under, while Kim A-rim and Yoon Yi-na placed tied for seventh at 11-under.
Nelly Korda (U.S.), the world's No. 1 who competed in this event for the first time in four years, paired with Olivia Cowan (Germany) to finish tied for 17th at 8-under.
