[Photo: Chung Sung-Jun]
Sei Young Kim went wire-to-wire for her first LPGA victory in five years, but it wasn’t without plenty of nerves.
The 32-year-old Kim had a four-shot lead after 54 holes and bogeyed the third hole of her final round Sunday at Pine Beach Golf Links in her home country of South Korea. That was her only blemish en route to a win the BMW Ladies Championship in front of a gallery that eagerly cheered every shot.
Kim became the record 27th different player to win on tour this year in 26 events. She never lost the lead but it shrank to one shot on the front nine. Kim birdied three holes in a row—Nos. 5, 6 and 7—and shot 62-66-69-67 for a 264 total to win at 24 under. Nasa Hataoka finished second, four shots back.
“I was very nervous, even today at the first hole. My legs were shaking,” Kim said. “I was so nervous the whole round. I was trying to be focussed. Yealimi Noh was chasing me and pushed me. I have to move forward. She’s very motivating for me.”
Nothing like being back on top 🏆 👊 pic.twitter.com/HehpXvrWUH
— LPGA (@LPGA) October 19, 2025
No doubt Kim is motivating to others, especially because she raised a trophy again after such a long time. When she drained her par putt on the 18th hole, she pumped her arms toward the sky and smiled. A photo of that moment would spell relief. Noh, who was in the final group and stayed in the hunt with three birdies on the front nine, tied for fifth. Noh was the first to spray Kim with water, then Korean players ran over and sprayed her with champagne.
OTHER NEWS: Oliver Bekker keeps it interesting until the end in winning an unpredictable WA Open
Kim is the seventh player from the Republic of Korea to win this season, giving Korea the most victories on tour by any country. She joins Youmin Hwang, Jin Hee Im, A Lim Kim, Hyo Joo Kim, Somi Lee and Haeran Ryu in the winner’s circle. Japan boasts six players who have won this season.
Those tense moments for Kim on Sunday weren’t hard to fathom because of her winless drought and especially because one week earlier, Minami Katsu lost a four-shot lead with five holes to play at the Buick LPGA Shanghai. World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul won the event in China in five playoff holes for her second victory this season. She’s the only multiple event winner year.
Kim has been wearing red pants on Sundays—an ode to Tiger Woods—since she was a teenager and her Sunday red worked its magic. Kim was steady down the stretch and birdied the par-3 15th hole. She placed her tee shot perfectly to within a few feet and made the putt, giving her the six-shot lead.
JUNG YEON-JE
Kim won for the 13th time on the LPGA and earned a $US345,000 ($A531,000) winner’s prize from the $US2.3 million purse. She also was presented with a cardboard check for $US10,000 ($A15,400) for setting the course record at 10-under 62 in the first round. That set her up for success.
It was that kind of week. Kim played well with the lead all week. She earned her eighth top-10 finish of the season and undoubtedly will enter next year with plenty of confidence. The kind that had her contending for titles with regularity.
After all, she won the Women’s PGA Championship in 2020, the same year she was the Rolex Player of the Year. She has 18 worldwide victories as well.
“I can’t believe it it’s been a long time since the last win,” Kim said. “Since the last three holes, I was kind of emotional and wanted to pay attention to what I’m doing. The fans helped me a lot. They cheered for me. I’m glad to win in my hometown. I’m happy to give it to them. It’s an honour.”
