Solid week for Meadow as Kim earns first LPGA win on third start

Ronan MacNamara
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Stephanie Meadow (Photo by Yoshimasa Nakano/Getty Images)

Ronan MacNamara

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Stephanie Meadow closed with a two-under 70 to finish the Lotte Championship under par as Grace Kim edged Yu Liu and Yu Jin Sung in a playoff.

Meadow climbed into a share of 31st place on one-under, eleven shots off the lead.

The Jordanstown native who got married last week, started quickly with three birdies in five holes before two bogeys in three holes saw her turn in 35.

Eight successive pars on the back nine were arrested by a closing birdie as she ended her week on a high.

The drama was at the top as Kim, Liu and Sung couldn’t be separated after 72 holes on twelve-under.

Kim shot a round of 68, one better than overnight leader Sung while Liu put her name in the hat with a blistering final round 64.

Kim came out on top in the playoff to claim her maiden LPGA Tour win in just her third start.

“I really didn’t have high expectations. Just really tried to play my game. Didn’t try to force anything. Just trying to I guess go with the flow.

“Yeah, I’m still speechless that it’s kind of done already and I got the job done. So, yeah, mind is kind of busy I would say.”

The Australian birdied the playoff hole while her two opponents could only par.

“Having that putt before during my actual round, had a little left-to-righter, but it was a little further left than the original putt. Seeing the girls- seeing Yu miss it left, Yu Jin miss it right I’m like, I think this is straight, so I went straight at it and got it done,” said the 22-year-old who came through the Epson Tour.

“I think I’ve learned a lot through the Epson Tour last year. I did my whole year except the first two events, and just being in contention every week, week in, week out, you know, living out of a suitcase, being just on tour life I think has really I guess hit reality for me.

“Kind of just the taste tester of what life on the LPGA Tour is like. I try to take as much in with the advice everyone — majority of everyone has given me with just enjoy the moment. I think I did quite well.

“I would say it was probably the least nerve-racking playoff I’ve ever had and I’m quite surprised at that myself.

“Yes, I was nervous over the putt, but was focused enough to block that out. But I think having that year on the Epson Tour, even though I missed final stage the year before, was, yeah, the greatest plan for me.”

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