Kim A-lim hits 9-under 63 to win the MY Moonyoung Queens Park Championship 2019
Kim A-lim reacts after securing victory at the MY Moonyoung Queens Park Championship 2019 at the Solmoro Country Club in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. Courtesy of KLPGA
By Kim Jeong-kyoo
Kim A-lim rallied to come from two shots behind to win the MY Moonyoung Queens Park Championship 2019, Sunday.
The 23-year-old fired a 9-under 63, beating Kwak Bo-me by three strokes at the 6,527-yard Solmoro Country Club in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province.
Kim managed to pull away from a large batch of opponents while the competitors playing in the last group struggled with their game.
Entering the final round, Kim was two strokes behind the three overnight co-leaders, Jang Ha-na, Lee Da-yeon and Cho Jeong-min. Kwak had a one stroke advantage, while the high-profile Choi Hye-jin and seven others were trailing a shot behind, presaging a fierce final round battle.
Kim was hardly a surprise winner. With a powerful drive ― her average 273 yards ranks first in driving distance ― only her short game on and around the green was holding her back, with a putting average of 30.23 per round. However, she overcame this with 23 putts on tough multi-tiered greens.
She rattled off birdies at Nos. 3, 4 and 5 to climb to share the lead with Kwak; and on the eighth found her solely ahead after her playing partner Kwak bogeyed the par-3 seventh.
Kim made the turn at 10-under, sharing a three-way lead with Park So-yeon and Kwak.
Reeling in a birdie at No. 10, she became the sole leader, a shot clear of Kwak, Han Jin-seon and Park So-yeon.
Kim then rattled off five birdies in a row through No. 14 to lead the field by two strokes.
She faced her first crisis when she pushed her shot into the woods off the 15th tee, but successfully escaped the hazard, getting up and down for par.
Kim then overshot the par-3 17th, with Kwak following suit; but hit a decent chip shot from the rough, setting up a chance for par. Kwak did the same but failed to save par.
Finishing the 18th with a par, Kim took to the clubhouse with a three-shot lead, her victory already secure as contestants in the penultimate group were already out of contention.
“I enjoy the close game being chased by my competitors,” she said when asked if she felt pressure from Kwak. “There's quite obviously a lot of synergy between us.”
Kim received 120 million won in prize money with her first triumph win of the season and second career KLPGA Tour title.
The KLPGA Tour now takes a three-week hiatus before resuming on Jeju Island for the Jeju Samdasoo Masters from August 9 to 11.