Hyo Joo Kim became the third player to go wire-to-wire on the LPGA this season at the 2023 Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America in Texas. The South Korean began the day with a five-shot lead and never wavered, clinching her sixth career victory with a closing 69. Kim finished with a 13-under total, four strokes ahead of Bianca Pagdanganan and Atthaya Thitikul.
“My results this year wasn’t bad,” said Kim, “but there was some disappointment because I didn’t have a win. I had a lot of the time to think just for myself, and before this year passes, I really want to win.
“This week I was able to accomplish that, and it was just a really happy week for me.”
With the victory, Kim earned $270,000 and crossed the $2 million mark in season earnings for the first time in her career. She has now won on the LPGA in each of the past three seasons.
The long-bombing Pagdanganan shot 30 on the back nine to close with a 65 and vault into a share of second. Her share of second, coupled with a T-3 last week in Arkansas, secures her LPGA card for 2024 in only 10 starts. Thitikul birdied five of her last seven holes, but no one could rattle Kim.
“Short game is pretty much everything in this sport,” said Pagdanganan, “so I’ve been just putting in more time with chipping, putting, everything around the green. I really can say that the last two weeks that’s kind of what saved my game.”
For Kemp, it was a step closer to securing her spot in the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship, which includes the top 60 and ties in the year-long points race. CME is a personal sponsor of Kemp’s.
“It’s all I want to make,” said Kemp. “It’s my sponsor’s event, so I want to make it for Terry Duffy. They have been so good to me. I just want to make it so bad for them.”
Lexi Thompson entered the final round in a share of second but ended the day solo fifth at Old American Golf Club. Still, Thompson was very happy with her play as she heads into the PGA Tour event in Las Vegas next week.
“I’ll definitely need my top game going into next week,” said Thompson. “Get that driver more in tune. Didn’t hit it too much on this golf course, but I’m going to need it I’m sure there.”
Past champion Cheyenne Knight, who lives nearby and practices at Shady Oaks Country Club, closed with a bogey-free 63 to move into sixth place.
“I wasn’t feeling that great this morning,” said Knight. “It’s just been I feel like I’m just a little bit tired just like since Solheim. Just kind of been going.
“Once I tee’d off I was like, all right, you got 18 more holes and then I get a break, because I’m not playing until Malaysia. Told myself to enjoy it and kind of put but things into perspective. My family is out here watching and kind of get out of my own way a little bit.
Monday qualifier Katherine Muzi, playing in her first LPGA event, tied for seventh. Muzi played college golf at USC and South Carolina, where she worked at the latter toward a graduate certificate in data and communication. Because next week’s LPGA stop in China is a limited-field event, Muzi’s top 10 in Texas does not get her in.
“The whole thing has been surreal,” said Muzi, “especially this being my first ever LPGA event. Like ever. And then I just a happen to be a pro just playing in it. It’s crazy.”
