Kim Hyo-joo overcomes jet lag to win Lotte Open by one stroke

Kim Hyo-joo powered through jet lag and fatigue from long-distance travel to claim a come-from-behind victory at the KLPGA Tour Lotte Open, which carried a purse of 1.2 billion won ($772,000).

Playing the final round Sunday at Bears Best Cheongna Golf Club's America-Australasia Course (par 72) in Incheon's Seo-gu, Kim carded a flawless 5-under-par 67 — five birdies, no bogeys — to finish at 15-under 273 and edge joint runners-up Park Ye-ji, Yoo Hyun-jo, Lee Se-hee and Lee Da-yeon by one stroke. Her winner's check came to 216 million won.

The victory was Kim's second KLPGA Tour title of the season. She had won the NH Investment Securities Ladies Championship in May, making her two-for-two in KLPGA Tour starts this season.

Kim had finished the LPGA Tour major KPMG Women's PGA Championship the previous week and returned home Tuesday, carrying accumulated fatigue and a significant time difference. Despite the difficult conditions, she delivered world-class golf across all four rounds, befitting her world No. 3 ranking.

"Honestly, the jet lag was brutal — I kept waking up at 3 or 4 in the morning," Kim said in her post-round interview. "Playing in the afternoon felt like playing a morning round. Still, I'm so happy to have won. I spent some wonderful time with my niece this week, and it made everything feel great."

The win is Kim's 16th career KLPGA Tour title, including one as an amateur. Four more victories would give her 20 career wins — a milestone that would earn her a lifetime exemption, joining Ku Ok-hee, Shin Ji-yae and Park Min-ji as the only players to reach that mark. Kim has also won twice on the LPGA Tour this season, bringing her career total on that circuit to nine.

Entering the final round one stroke behind leader Park Ye-ji, Kim seized the initiative early with birdies on three consecutive holes — Nos. 2, 3 and 4. Her birdie on the par-4 fourth was particularly striking: a 16.6-meter putt that drew loud cheers from the gallery.

Kim added a birdie from 5.7 meters on the par-5 sixth, then stuck her approach to within 1.5 meters of the pin on the par-4 15th to pull level at the top of the leaderboard. She moved into sole possession of the lead when co-leader Lee Se-hee three-putted the par-3 17th, missing a 2-meter par putt for a bogey. Kim protected her advantage through the final hole to seal the win.

Park Ye-ji, who had started the day one stroke ahead, birdied twice on the front nine to build a solo lead, but gave it back with bogeys on Nos. 11, 13 and 16. She rallied with back-to-back birdies on the final two holes to finish in a tie for second — the best result of her professional career — and left a strong impression on fans.

Yoo Hyun-jo, playing in the final group, was one stroke back of Kim through 17 holes after picking up two birdies, but could not convert on the par-4 18th, failing to hole out from the fringe with her third shot and missing the chance to force a playoff.

Hwang Yu-min shot a 6-under 66, highlighted by a hole-out eagle on the par-4 fifth hole, to finish at 11-under 277 in a tie for sixth with Moon Jeong-min. On the fifth, Hwang's second shot with a wedge from 98.6 meters out found the bottom of the cup.

Kim Min-sun 7 also carded a 6-under 66 on the final day — eight birdies against two bogeys — to finish at 10-under 278 in a tie for eighth alongside Choi Eun-woo, Lee Ji-hyun 3 and Choi Ye-rim.

Kim Min-sol, who was chasing her fourth win of the season, shot a 3-under 69 to finish at 9-under 279, ending the tournament in a tie for 12th with Ma Da-som, Jeon Ye-seong and others.