S. Korean golfer Kim In-kyung wins on Ladies European Tour

September 12, 2016

SEOUL, Sept. 12 (Yonhap) — South Korean golfer Kim In-kyung has captured a Ladies European Tour (LET) event in Germany.

Kim won the ISPS Handa Ladies European Masters at Golf Club Hubbelrath in Dusseldorf, Germany, on Sunday (local time), at 17-under 271. After shooting a bogey-free round of 63 in the final round, Kim defeated Belen Mozo of Spain by five strokes and cashed in 75,000 euros (US$84,270).

Kim, a three-time winner on the U.S. LPGA Tour, now also has three wins on the LTE. She also won the ISPS Handa Ladies European Masters in 2014, when it was held in England, and the 2009 Omega Dubai Ladies Masters.

Kim began the final day at eight-under, one off the lead held by Mozo, and picked up four shots on the front nine, thanks to three straight birdies starting at the fifth.

Kim added another birdie at the 10th and went on another birdie barrage, with three in a row from the 12th. She finished off her round by draining a five-foot birdie putt at the 18th.

Mozo had a hole-in-one at the par-3 13th but mixed in four birdies with three bogeys for a 69.

Kim said she actually wanted to go lower than 63 because she had a lot of chances.

“I did my best on every shot from the first day, and today it just kind of came together with some good putts,” Kim told the LET’s website. “I had 26 putts today. Yesterday, I hit the ball as well, but the putts didn’t fall.”

Kim also thanked South Korean residents in the area for their support.

“It’s a totally different feeling because then we played in England and now we’re playing in Germany,” she said. “There is such a big Korean community in Germany. … It means a lot to be the only Korean in the field, so I wanted to play well, but you cannot force golf; it’s four rounds.”

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