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SPRINGFIELD, Illinois: South Korea's In-Kyung Kim fired a seven-under par 65 Sunday to capture the LPGA State Farm Classic, winning her second career tour title by one stroke over compatriot Se Ri Pak.
Kim, whose prior triumph came in the 2008 Longs Drugs Challenge, finished 72 holes on 17-under par 271, edging five-time major winner Pak. Koreans Hee-Won Han and Jee Young Lee and American Angela Stanford shared third on 273.
"I just feel great. I'm very excited to win this week," Kim said.
Kim opened with a birdie on the par-5 first from 12 feet, added back-to-back birdies at the par-3 fifth from 25 feet and par-5 sixth from 12 feet before a bogey at seven which she answered with a short birdie putt on the eighth.
A four-under run on the back nine brought Kim the triumph, with short birdies at the par-4 11th, the par-5 13th and 18th and par-3 17th holes.
"I saw all that was happening in front of me, what Se Ri was doing," Kim said. "I needed a birdie at 16 to tie her. At 17, I had a good chance to make birdie, that was the moment I felt I had a chance."
Pak opened with three birdies and sandwiched two more at six and eight around her lone birdie of the round. She matched Kim with birdies on 13 and 16 but fell one stroke short of her first title since 2007.
"I thought I had a chance but she was better than I was," Pak said. "I thought if I did my best, I would have a chance. That happens."
Except for world number one Lorena Ochoa of Mexico, the top 50 money winners were playing this week, preparing for next week's second women's major, the LPGA Championship.
"This tournament means a lot to me, playing with all the great players that all played this week," Kim said. "I feel really special.
“I've really worked hard on my game. I'm more confident. I trust myself more on the golf course and I don't have to worry about other things. It's going the right way. I'm very pleased."
Defeating Pak, who inspired the younger wave of South Koreans that are now a major force in LPGA events, made the victory sweet as well for Kim, twice a runner-up this season.
"She definitely opened the door for all the Korean players and we really look up to her," Kim said. "There are a lot of great players from Korea."
That is part of Pak's legacy.
"It makes it very exciting for me," Pak said. "We have so many players from my country playing at the same time together, so they have a chance like that.
"Whether we're friends or not, we're out here winning tournaments, same goals. It makes a lot of work. All the young players from my country, because of me they come over to play the LPGA.
"Now just giving me a lot of energy. They play good. At the same time I look at them and make sure I'm not too lazy. I'm looking at them. I'm one of their idols. Basically I just can't just take it easy or give up."
- AFP/yb
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