Kim sets LPGA record
Sei Young Kim shot a 7-under-par 65 on Sunday to finish an LPGA Tour-record 31-under as she cruised to a nine-shot win in the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic in Oneida, Wis.
Kim had shared the LPGA record with Annika Sorenstam. Kim won the 2016 Founders Cup at 27-under to match Sorenstam’s performance at the 2001 Standard Register Ping.
“After the Founders Cup, I got new goals,” Kim said. “I wish I could break up the (tour) record. It’s really unbelievable.”
Kim also set the 72-hole scoring record at 257, finishing with three pars to break the mark by one shot. She had 31 birdies and one eagle, another record for most sub-par holes in a tournament. Kim hit 67 of 72 greens in regulation.
“I never thought I’d shoot 31-under,” Kim said. “I really feel incredible.”
“In a word, phenomenal,” defending champion Katherine Kirk, who finished 15-under and tied for 20th, said of Kim’s round. “We knew that you could go low around this golf course, but she’s taken it to a whole other level. It’s pretty exciting to watch, really . ... She’s a great player. She obviously knows how to win. She just kept the foot down.”
Carlota Ciganda shot a 64 to finish second.
PGA Tour: Kevin Na shot a 6-under 64 for a five-stroke victory over Kelly Kraft at A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier in White Sulpher Springs, W.Va. Na’s only other tour win came in Las Vegas in October 2011.
“I wasn’t sure if it was going to come again. I was hoping it would — sooner than later,” said Na, 34. “I’ve been close so many times, failed so many times.”
Na finished at 19-under 261 and picked up the $1.31 million winner’s paycheck.
“My putter got hot,” Na said. “The first day the putter felt awful, and (then) it just clicked. Every time I got over the ball it felt great, and everything felt like it was going in.”
Briefly: Cal’s Collin Morikawa and Stanford’s Andrea Lee each won a lopsided match to help the United States complete a 38.5-21.5 rout of the International team in the Arnold Palmer Cup in Evian-les-Bains, France. ... Russell Knox beat Ryan Fox on the first hole of a playoff to win the Irish Open in Donegal for his first European Tour victory. Knox shot a 6-under 66 and Fox a 68 to finish the fourth round at 14-under 274 . ... Nelson Ledesma shot a 5-under 67 to finish at 22-under 266 for a two-shot victory over Kyle Jones in the Lecom Health Challenge at Findley Lake, N.Y., for his first Web.com Tour victory.