Youmin Hwang rides birdie run to Lotte Championship, 1st LPGA Tour crown

South Korea's Youmin Hwang birdied five of the last six holes, including four straight to finish the round and capture the Lotte Championship for her first LPGA Tour victory on Saturday in Ewa Beach, Hawaii. Hwang carded a 5-under-par 67 to finish at 17-under 271, one stroke ahead of fellow South Korean Hyo Joo Kim, who birdied No. 18 and shot 68 on Saturday, and two ahead of Japan's Minami Katsu (69). The 22-year-old Hwang fired a career-best and course-record, 10-under 62 on Thursday to hold a three-shot lead after two rounds at Hoakalei Country Club. She followed that with a 3-over 75 on Friday to fall into an eight-way tie for second at 12 under. Hwang had a flat front nine on Saturday, following one birdie at the par-3 No. 4 with a bogey at the par-5 No. 5 and otherwise settling for par. The back nine was a different story after three straight pars. She birdied the par-4 No. 13 to get to 13 under for the tournament, made par at No. 14 and then ripped off consecutive birdies at Nos. 15-18 — the first hole a par-3 and the last a par-5. "I actually didn't believe in myself, but, yeah, my caddie, he supported me very well during the course," Hwang said through a translator when asked about the tournament-ending birdie run. "He said we can make it, and he said some kind of support from him. Thanks to his support, I think I can be here the winner of today's championship." With Hwang's first LPGA Tour win, she can choose to become a tour member immediately or defer to 2026. Hwang also has two career victories on the LPGA of Korea Tour, and she won a Taiwan LPGA Tour event this year. "I'm glad things went very well, just as I planned for this year as challenge," Hwang said through a translator and also thanked Lotte, which invited her to the tournament as the sponsor. World No. 2 Nelly Korda, seeking her first win in 2025, carded 69 for the third time in four rounds (the other a 67 on Thursday) to finish in a four-way tie for fourth at 14 under. Korda birdied Nos. 1, 2, 10, 11 and 15, countered by bogeys at Nos. 9 and 16. She tied with Taiwan's Peiyn Chien (70 on Saturday), third-round leader Akie Iwai of Japan (71) and American Jessica Porvasnik (70). "I mean, my game plan, it's pretty simple: It's always to give everything 100 percent and concentrate in and dial in it," Korda said. "If I'm doing what I can, then that's kind of like the most that I can do. But it was nice to be in contention. The end goal, always, without saying, for everyone in this field, is to lift that trophy on Sunday. Falling a little bit short definitely motivated. Have some work to do and have a couple more events to end off the season." –Field Level Media

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