Kim prevails as Peters falters
CRESSY golfer Stacey Peters failed to make the weekend in the Women’s British Open won by Korea’s I.K. Kim.
After scoring one of the final spots in the championship just before the start of the week, Peters fired a three-over 147 to join Karrie Webb, Minjee Lee, Sarah Jane Smith and Whitney Hillier as Australians who missed the cut.
Kim held off a brilliant challenge from England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff to claim an overdue maiden major title at Kingsbarns.
Kim saw her six-shot overnight lead cut in half by a superb run of scoring from Shadoff, 29, who followed a birdie on the second with five in a row from the sixth and another on the 13th.
She birdied the 17th to close the gap to two and parred the last to complete a 64, equalling the course record set on day one by Michelle Wie and matched by Inbee Park in round three.
But Kim, who famously missed a 30cm putt that cost her the ANA Inspiration tournament in 2012, was able to par the final five holes for a closing 71 and a winning total of 18 under par.
Shadoff’s runner-up finish was her best result in a major and secured her place on Europe’s Solheim Cup team to take on the US in Iowa from August 18-20. “I’m so excited,” she told Sky Sports.
“My last Solheim (in 2013) was the best experience I’ve had on a golf course so I’m looking forward to doing it again and trying to take the trophy back.”
England’s Georgia Hall, who is also a previous winner of the Victorian Open at Thirteenth Beach, carded a final round of 70 to share third place with Wie and Germany’s Caroline Masson.