Youmin Hwang captured the LOTTE Championship presented by Hoakalei, scoring her first LPGA Tour victory with a spectacular late comeback.
A member of the KLPGA and participating at a sponsor's invitation, the 22-year-old Hwang birdied her final four holes at the windswept Hoakalei Golf Club, posting a 67 (-5) for a one-shot victory over Hyo Joo Kim.
YouminHwang, results
"This is my dream. I finally realized it here at the LOTTE Championship, and I look forward to my future on the LPGA with great excitement."
Not yet an official member of the tour, Hwang has the choice of accepting membership immediately or deferring it until next season. The two-time winner on the Korean Tour triumphed in her sixth career LPGA event and fourth of the year, after making the cut in all three majors: the US Women's Open, the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, and the Evian Championship.
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"I would like to express my deepest gratitude to LOTTE for inviting me," Hwang added. "It's even more meaningful to be able to play and win in a tournament sponsored by LOTTE, my main supporter."
Leading with Kim and Minami Katsu, Hwang received a life-changing assist when both Katsu and Kim bogeyed the 17th. On the par-5 18th, Hwang bogeyed the green with her second shot into the rough, but recovered with a masterful chip to put the ball in the hole to win the tournament.
Hwang finished at 271 (-17). On Thursday, she set a personal best with a 62 that gave her a three-shot lead, before a second-round 75 dropped her to second place, one shot behind Akie Iwai.
Kim closed with a birdie on the 18th for a 68, finishing 16-under in second. Katsu finished 15-under in third with a 69.
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World No. 2 Nelly Korda shot a 69 for a 14-under total, three shots behind the winner, along with Peiyun Chien, Jessica Porvasnik, and Iwai. After a dream season with seven victories in 2024, Korda has yet to lift a trophy this year.
The LPGA Tour now heads to Asia for five consecutive weeks of competition in Shanghai, South Korea, Malaysia, and Japan, promising a thrilling schedule.
The LPGA is heading into the final phase of its season, with the LOTTE Championship presented by Hoakalei, scheduled for October 1-4, 2025. After the final event, the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G, was shortened to 18 holes due to rain and declared unofficial, this week's tournament in Hawaii is crucial for players looking to accumulate valuable seasonal ranking points or try to secure a spot in the final tournaments of the year. The 13th edition of the LOTTE Championship will see 120 players compete for a prize pool of 2.7 million.
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Nelly Korda is the star of the LOTTE Championship, where she will return to compete for the first time since 2021, when she achieved a T2 finish with a 9-under-par third round (63). The former Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings number one will have the opportunity to climb the season rankings, while Jeeno Thitikul, the leader in several season-long prize money categories, will not be present in Hawaii.
Korda is currently second on Tour in scoring average with a 69.78, behind Thitikul, who leads with a 69.158 average. Korda is still chasing her first win of the season and returns to Hawaii after a tie for fifth place at the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G. She opened with a round of 69 in Arkansas before the remainder of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship was canceled.
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Charley Hull, the last winner on the LPGA Tour at the Kroger Queen City Championship, will return to action this week after skipping the trip to Arkansas to return to England. This will be her first event in Hawaii since 2019.
Several players who participated in the weather-shortened Walmart NW Arkansas Championship will be back in action this week. Sarah Schmelzel started strong in Arkansas with an 8-under-par opening round (63) and will look to keep the momentum going, as will six-time LPGA Tour winner Nasa Hataoka, who opened with a 64 in Arkansas. Hataoka is in excellent form, having tied for fifth at the Kroger Queen City Championship, and returns to Hawaii, where she finished fourth last year.
Major champion Jennifer Kupcho, a winner this year at the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer, is currently in strong form, having tied for fifth in Cincinnati and an opening round of 65 in Arkansas.
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A Lim Kim captured the 2024 LOTTE Championship at Hoakalei Country Club with a final-round 4-under, beating Nataliya Guseva by two shots. That victory was Kim's second LPGA title, having won the
