Sei Young Kim storms to record-equalling win in Founders Cup
Monday 21 March 2016 11:28, UK
Sei Young Kim matched an LPGA record as she stormed to a five-shot victory in the Founders Cup in Arizona.
The Korean closed the tournament with a 10-under 62 at Desert Ridge, finishing on a 27-under total that equalled the mark set by Swedish great Annika Sorenstam back in 2001 in a tournament where she had a round of 59.
She had a chance to set a new mark with a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th, but it missed the hole and Kim had to settle for a share of the record.
Kim, who was winning for the fourth time on the LPGA Tour, also matched the tournament record with her final round - it had been set on Thursday by compatriot Mi Hyang Lee, who fell away badly after her fast start.
The eventual champion held a one-shot lead going into the final round, but soon took control with a run of five birdies in seven holes from the second as she cruised through the front nine in 31 strokes.
An eagle at the 11th extended her lead, and Kim managed three more birdies in the closing stretch to put distance between herself and Lydia Ko, and eventually claim the $225,000 (£156,000) first prize.
"I didn't think about that," Kim said about Sorenstam's record. "But I thought, 'If I win, I have to score low.' ... It's a dream come true. I scored 10 under. It's my best score ever, ever.
"Before I begin this tournament, I read a book about Annika. I got a lot of inspiration from that story. ... She's still my idol. When I was young, I watched her play on TV."
She also received congratulations from Sorenstam, who said from her home in Nevada: "Congratulations to Sei Young on her outstanding play this week. I thought she was going to make that last putt. It's hard to believe it's only her second year on the LPGA."
Ko's round started badly, with a dropped shot at the first, but she responded well to that mistake and made three birdies in the next five holes.
A run of four more birdies midway through the back nine meant the young New Zealander signing for a round of 65, and a 22-under total that would have won most tournaments.
Third place went to America's Jacqui Concolino, who was Kim's nearest challenger going into the final round but could only manage a final round 68, including six birdies and a couple of bogeys.
Canada's Brooke Henderson, Korea's Eun-Hee Ji and American trio Megan Khang, Paula Creamer and Stacy Lewis shared fourth place on 19 under.
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