Hyo-Joo Kim (click to enlarge)
The 2016 LPGA season crowned its first champion of the season as South Korea’s Hyo-Joo Kim fired a final round 7-under 66 (par is 73 on this course) to win the 2016 Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic by 2 shots at 18-under overall. It was definitely the way to win an event, with a strong finish. Her only hiccup was missing the green short on her second shot to the par 4 16th. She chipped to 6 feet past the hole and suffered her only bogey of the day when she missed the comeback putt. Like the true champion that Kim is, she turned around and immediately birdied the next hole, the par 3 17th. Her tee shot to the green on the 17th was a gorgeous right to left bender to 4 feet of the hole. Hyo-Joo now has at least one LPGA win the past three years. Her first, the 2014 Evian Championship, was won as a non-member. The 20-year old emerging star won her way onto the LPGA tour and looks like she will keep winning for years to come.
Stacy Lewis (click to enlarge)
The nature of sports is if there is joy for one, there is disappointment for others. It’s relative, of course. Stacy Lewis further showed why she, along with Lydia Ko and Inbee Park, is one of the top 3 players on tour with a 2nd place finish at 16-under. At the same time, she has to be so frustrated with all the second place finishes in her career. The 11-time LPGA winner didn’t have a victory in 2015, but did come up the bridesmaid 6 times. And while 11 LPGA victories are more than 99% of tour players will ever achieve, her 22 2nd place finishes speak to just how all-time great her career stats would be had she won even a third of those runners-up. Switching to another player, I am always happy to see Pornanong Phatlum record a top 5 with a solid 15-under score. That’s especially true in the season opener. However, she did have a few opportunities to put pressure on Hyo-Joo Kim, but just couldn’t quite make those clutch putts when she needed them. Nevertheless, it’s a strong start to the season for Waen. I feel it’s a matter of when, not if, she wins her first official title. And, to finish, I cannot comment on this event without congratulating Ha Na Jang for her albatross hole-in-one on a par 4, the first par 4 ace in LPGA tour history, during round 3.
ALL PICS CLICK TO ENLARGE
1 HYO-JOO KIM (-18)
w/Minjee Lee
T2 STACY LEWIS (-16)
T2 ANNA NORDQVIST (-16)
T2 SEI-YOUNG KIM (-16)
T5 PORNANONG PHATLUM (-15)
T5 PAULA CREAMER (-15)
Sorry, don’t have T5 Il-Hee Lee (-15) pics, but good on her for a great performance!
LEADERBOARD
| Pos | Name | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Today | Total | Strokes | Purse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hyo-Joo Kim | 70 | 70 | 68 | 66 | -7 | -18 | 274 | $210,000 |
| T2 | Sei-Young Kim | 71 | 68 | 69 | 68 | -5 | -16 | 276 | $96,957 |
| T2 | Stacy Lewis | 73 | 68 | 67 | 68 | -5 | -16 | 276 | $96,957 |
| T2 | Anna Nordqvist | 70 | 69 | 68 | 69 | -4 | -16 | 276 | $96,957 |
| T5 | Pornanong Phatlum | 71 | 72 | 69 | 65 | -8 | -15 | 277 | $47,939 |
| T5 | Paula Creamer | 68 | 72 | 71 | 66 | -7 | -15 | 277 | $47,939 |
| T5 | Ilhee Lee | 71 | 72 | 66 | 68 | -5 | -15 | 277 | $47,939 |
| T8 | Brittany Lincicome | 70 | 71 | 72 | 65 | -8 | -14 | 278 | $31,224 |
| T8 | Min Seo Kwak | 69 | 70 | 72 | 67 | -6 | -14 | 278 | $31,224 |
| T8 | Charley Hull | 68 | 70 | 69 | 71 | -2 | -14 | 278 | $31,224 |
| T11 | Ha Na Jang | 72 | 72 | 68 | 67 | -6 | -13 | 279 | $25,245 |
| T11 | Megan Khang | 70 | 68 | 71 | 70 | -3 | -13 | 279 | $25,245 |
| T13 | Haru Nomura | 68 | 70 | 74 | 68 | -5 | -12 | 280 | $22,147 |
| T13 | Hee Young Park | 72 | 72 | 66 | 70 | -3 | -12 | 280 | $22,147 |
| T15 | Mika Miyazato | 68 | 74 | 72 | 67 | -6 | -11 | 281 | $17,639 |
| T15 | Alison Lee | 68 | 73 | 69 | 71 | -2 | -11 | 281 | $19,639 |
| T17 | Brittany Lang | 73 | 72 | 71 | 66 | -7 | -10 | 282 | $16,993 |
| T17 | Jane Park | 72 | 72 | 71 | 67 | -6 | -10 | 282 | $16,993 |
| T17 | Lexi Thompson | 74 | 69 | 71 | 68 | -5 | -10 | 282 | $16,993 |
| T17 | Candie Kung | 71 | 77 | 66 | 68 | -5 | -10 | 282 | $16,993 |
| T21 | Brittany Altomare | 71 | 73 | 72 | 67 | -6 | -9 | 283 | $13,849 |
| T21 | Jessica Korda | 72 | 74 | 70 | 67 | -6 | -9 | 283 | $13,849 |
| T21 | Minjee Lee | 73 | 70 | 74 | 66 | -7 | -9 | 283 | $13,849 |
| T21 | Austin Ernst | 73 | 69 | 72 | 69 | -4 | -9 | 283 | $13,849 |
| T21 | Cristie Kerr | 77 | 65 | 72 | 69 | -4 | -9 | 283 | $13,849 |
| T21 | Brooke Henderson | 71 | 72 | 70 | 70 | -3 | -9 | 283 | $13,849 |
| T21 | Catriona Matthew | 68 | 71 | 71 | 73 | E | -9 | 283 | $13,849 |
| T28 | Angela Stanford | 73 | 73 | 70 | 68 | -5 | -8 | 284 | $11,375 |
| T28 | Jaye Marie Green | 71 | 76 | 69 | 68 | -5 | -8 | 284 | $11,375 |
| T28 | Jacqui Concolino | 75 | 72 | 69 | 68 | -5 | -8 | 284 | $11,375 |
| T31 | Mina Harigae | 74 | 72 | 70 | 69 | -4 | -7 | 285 | $9,322 |
| T31 | Sandra Gal | 75 | 72 | 71 | 67 | -6 | -7 | 285 | $9,322 |
| T31 | Ryann O’Toole | 74 | 71 | 70 | 70 | -3 | -7 | 285 | $9,322 |
| T31 | Gaby Lopez | 71 | 72 | 76 | 66 | -7 | -7 | 285 | $9,322 |
| T31 | Tiffany Joh | 73 | 71 | 70 | 71 | -2 | -7 | 285 | $9,322 |
| T31 | Lee Lopez | 73 | 73 | 68 | 71 | -2 | -7 | 285 | $9,322 |
| T31 | Maude-Aimee Leblanc | 73 | 70 | 70 | 72 | -1 | -7 | 285 | $9,322 |
| T38 | Amy Anderson | 74 | 73 | 70 | 69 | -4 | -6 | 286 | $7,257 |
| T38 | P.K. Kongkraphan | 70 | 75 | 71 | 70 | -3 | -6 | 286 | $7,257 |
| T38 | Alena Sharp | 73 | 74 | 69 | 70 | -3 | -6 | 286 | $7,257 |
| T38 | Carlota Ciganda | 76 | 71 | 69 | 70 | -3 | -6 | 286 | $7,257 |
| T38 | Chella Choi | 71 | 74 | 73 | 68 | -5 | -6 | 286 | $7,257 |
| T43 | Laetitia Beck | 70 | 72 | 74 | 71 | -2 | -5 | 287 | $5,934 |
| T43 | Mo Martin | 73 | 72 | 72 | 70 | -3 | -5 | 287 | $5,934 |
| T43 | Juli Inkster | 72 | 71 | 71 | 73 | E | -5 | 287 | $5,934 |
| T43 | Danielle Kang | 70 | 77 | 73 | 67 | -6 | -5 | 287 | $5,934 |
| T43 | Wei-Ling Hsu | 74 | 74 | 74 | 65 | -8 | -5 | 287 | $5,934 |
| T48 | Giulia Sergas | 72 | 70 | 73 | 73 | E | -4 | 288 | $5,084 |
| T48 | Thidapa Suwannapura | 76 | 70 | 73 | 69 | -4 | -4 | 288 | $5,084 |
| T48 | Azahara Munoz | 71 | 72 | 71 | 74 | +1 | -4 | 288 | $5,084 |
| T51 | Lizette Salas | 72 | 74 | 71 | 72 | -1 | -3 | 289 | $4,597 |
| T51 | Beatriz Recari | 77 | 71 | 70 | 71 | -2 | -3 | 289 | $4,597 |
| T51 | Giulia Molinaro | 74 | 72 | 73 | 70 | -3 | -3 | 289 | $4,597 |
| T54 | Cydney Clanton | 71 | 73 | 72 | 74 | +1 | -2 | 290 | $3,595 |
| T54 | Jennifer Song | 75 | 70 | 71 | 74 | +1 | -2 | 290 | $3,595 |
| T54 | Kim Kaufman | 73 | 69 | 75 | 73 | E | -2 | 290 | $3,595 |
| T54 | Karine Icher | 75 | 73 | 68 | 74 | +1 | -2 | 290 | $3,595 |
| T54 | Lee-Anne Pace | 75 | 73 | 70 | 72 | -1 | -2 | 290 | $3,595 |
| T54 | Bertine Strauss | 74 | 74 | 70 | 72 | -1 | -2 | 290 | $3,595 |
| T54 | Sydnee Michaels | 73 | 74 | 71 | 72 | -1 | -2 | 290 | $3,595 |
| T54 | Holly Clyburn | 73 | 75 | 71 | 71 | -2 | -2 | 290 | $3,595 |
| T54 | Paula Reto | 71 | 74 | 74 | 71 | -2 | -2 | 290 | $3,595 |
| T54 | Pernilla Lindberg | 72 | 76 | 73 | 69 | -4 | -2 | 290 | $3,595 |
| T54 | Ai Miyazato | 75 | 71 | 75 | 69 | -4 | -2 | 290 | $3,595 |
| T54 | Caroline Masson | 74 | 74 | 74 | 68 | -5 | -2 | 290 | $3,595 |
| T54 | Morgan Pressel | 72 | 74 | 76 | 68 | -5 | -2 | 290 | $3,595 |
| T67 | Mi Hyang Lee | 72 | 73 | 72 | 74 | +1 | -1 | 291 | $2,925 |
| T67 | Moriya Jutanugarn | 71 | 71 | 76 | 73 | E | -1 | 291 | $2,925 |
| T67 | Sarah Kemp | 72 | 75 | 73 | 71 | -2 | -1 | 291 | $2,925 |
| T70 | Kelly Shon | 73 | 71 | 73 | 75 | +2 | E | 292 | $2,769 |
| T70 | Jennifer Johnson | 69 | 74 | 78 | 71 | -2 | E | 292 | $2,769 |
| T72 | Christine Song | 73 | 74 | 73 | 73 | E | +1 | 293 | $2,648 |
| T72 | Sakura Yokomine | 75 | 73 | 72 | 73 | E | +1 | 293 | $2,648 |
| T72 | Julieta Granada | 74 | 72 | 75 | 72 | -1 | +1 | 293 | $2,648 |
| T72 | Kelly Tan | 71 | 73 | 78 | 71 | -2 | +1 | 293 | $2,648 |
| T72 | Cyna Rodriguez | 70 | 77 | 78 | 68 | -5 | +1 | 293 | $2,648 |
| 77 | Simin Feng | 73 | 73 | 77 | 71 | -2 | +2 | 294 | $2,549 |
| 78 | Cheyenne Woods | 74 | 74 | 72 | 75 | +2 | +3 | 295 | $2,516 |
| 79 | Daniela Iacobelli | 71 | 76 | 75 | 76 | +3 | +6 | 298 | $2,484 |
| 80 | Rachel Rohanna | 80 | 68 | 78 | 80 | +7 | +14 | 306 | $2,452 |
| T81 | Christel Boeljon | 76 | 73 | MC | MC | – | – | 149 | – |
| T81 | Brianna Do | 74 | 75 | MC | MC | – | – | 149 | – |
| T81 | Jodi Ewart Shadoff | 77 | 72 | MC | MC | – | – | 149 | – |
| T81 | Min Lee | 73 | 76 | MC | MC | – | – | 149 | – |
| T81 | Kris Tamulis | 73 | 76 | MC | MC | – | – | 149 | – |
| T81 | Michelle Wie | 76 | 73 | MC | MC | – | – | 149 | – |
| T87 | Vicky Hurst | 80 | 70 | MC | MC | – | – | 150 | – |
| T87 | Ariya Jutanugarn | 72 | 78 | MC | MC | – | – | 150 | – |
| T87 | Alejandra Llaneza | 74 | 76 | MC | MC | – | – | 150 | – |
| T87 | Grace Na | 77 | 73 | MC | MC | – | – | 150 | – |
| T87 | Ashlan Ramsey | 68 | 82 | MC | MC | – | – | 150 | – |
| T87 | Budsabakorn Sukapan | 77 | 73 | MC | MC | – | – | 150 | – |
| T87 | Alison Walshe | 75 | 75 | MC | MC | – | – | 150 | – |
| 94 | Maria McBride | 78 | 73 | MC | MC | – | – | 151 | – |
| T95 | Dani Holmqvist | 74 | 78 | MC | MC | – | – | 152 | – |
| T95 | Yani Tseng | 76 | 76 | MC | MC | – | – | 152 | – |
| T95 | Ayako Uehara | 73 | 79 | MC | MC | – | – | 152 | – |
| 98 | Gerina Piller | 77 | 76 | MC | MC | – | – | 153 | – |
| T99 | Sandra Changkija | 78 | 76 | MC | MC | – | – | 154 | – |
| T99 | Casey Grice | 76 | 78 | MC | MC | – | – | 154 | – |
| T99 | Julie Yang | 73 | 81 | MC | MC | – | – | 154 | – |
| 102 | Katie Burnett | 76 | 79 | MC | MC | – | – | 155 | – |
| 103 | Sadena Parks | 78 | 78 | MC | MC | – | – | 156 | – |
| 104 | Annie Park | 76 | 85 | MC | MC | – | – | 161 | – |
| 105 | Georgette Rolle | 82 | 85 | MC | MC | – | – | 167 | – |
| 106 | Christina Kim | 75 | WD | WD | WD | – | – | 75 | – |
| 107 | Sarah Jane Smith | 78 | WD | WD | WD | – | – | 78 | – |
| 108 | Inbee Park | 80 | WD | WD | WD | – | – | 80 | – |
