In-Kyung Kim won the LPGA State Farm Classic with a final round 65 to beat Hall of Famer Se Ri Pak by one shot.
Kim and Pak started the day tied at 11-under par, one shot behind leaders Cristie Kerr and Kristy McPherson. Pak moved quickly, starting the day with three straight birdies. One better was Angela Stanford, who birdied her first four holes to take the lead at 14-under par. Both Stanford and Pak made birdie on the sixth hole to get to 15- and 14-under par, respectively.
Kim was two shots back of Stanford at 13-under, after birdies on the first, fifth and sixth holes. After a bogey on seven, Pak got back to 14-under with a birdie on the eighth hole. Stanford finished the front nine with a bogey on the ninth hole to fall into a tie with Pak. Kerr played the front nine at even-par and made the turn at 12-under, two shots back. McPherson had a bumpy start with three straight bogeys on the third, fourth and fifth holes and couldn’t recover finishing with a 74, tied for 18th place.
Stanford pulled ahead briefly with a birdie on the 10th hole, followed by a bogye on the 11th. Kerr got back into contention with birdies at the 10th and 11th holes, to tie Stanford and Pak at 14-under par. Stanford started to pull away after consecutive birdies on the 12th and 13th holes but, back-to-back bogeys pulled her back to 14-under and one shot behind Kim and Pak. Kim made birdies at the 11th and 13th holes to move to 15-under par. Pak joined her with a birdie at the 13th hole. Kerr made bogey on the 15th hole and finished birdie-bogey-birdie to remain at 14-under, tied for sixth place.
Stanford birdied the 16th hole to get to 15-under but, Kim and Pak also made biride on 16 to stay a shot better. Pak would par out as Kim moved ahead with a birdie on the 17th hole, adding par on the final hole for the victory.
Stanford tied for third place with Hee-Won Han and Jee Young Lee. Joining Kerr in sixth place were Suzann Pettersen, Paula Creamer, Ai Miyazato, Amy Hung and Eun-Hee Ji, who shot 63 in the final round.
Kim edges out Pak for LPGA State Farm Classic title
In-Kyung Kim won the LPGA State Farm Classic with a final round 65 to beat Hall of Famer Se Ri Pak by one shot.
Kim and Pak started the day tied at 11-under par, one shot behind leaders Cristie Kerr and Kristy McPherson. Pak moved quickly, starting the day with three straight birdies. One better was Angela Stanford, who birdied her first four holes to take the lead at 14-under par. Both Stanford and Pak made birdie on the sixth hole to get to 15- and 14-under par, respectively.
Kim was two shots back of Stanford at 13-under, after birdies on the first, fifth and sixth holes. After a bogey on seven, Pak got back to 14-under with a birdie on the eighth hole. Stanford finished the front nine with a bogey on the ninth hole to fall into a tie with Pak. Kerr played the front nine at even-par and made the turn at 12-under, two shots back. McPherson had a bumpy start with three straight bogeys on the third, fourth and fifth holes and couldn’t recover finishing with a 74, tied for 18th place.
Stanford pulled ahead briefly with a birdie on the 10th hole, followed by a bogye on the 11th. Kerr got back into contention with birdies at the 10th and 11th holes, to tie Stanford and Pak at 14-under par. Stanford started to pull away after consecutive birdies on the 12th and 13th holes but, back-to-back bogeys pulled her back to 14-under and one shot behind Kim and Pak. Kim made birdies at the 11th and 13th holes to move to 15-under par. Pak joined her with a birdie at the 13th hole. Kerr made bogey on the 15th hole and finished birdie-bogey-birdie to remain at 14-under, tied for sixth place.
Stanford birdied the 16th hole to get to 15-under but, Kim and Pak also made biride on 16 to stay a shot better. Pak would par out as Kim moved ahead with a birdie on the 17th hole, adding par on the final hole for the victory.
Stanford tied for third place with Hee-Won Han and Jee Young Lee. Joining Kerr in sixth place were Suzann Pettersen, Paula Creamer, Ai Miyazato, Amy Hung and Eun-Hee Ji, who shot 63 in the final round.