Sei Young Kim wins Pelican Women's for 2nd straight victory

Sei Young Kim won the Pelican Women’s Championship on Sunday for her second straight victory, closing with an even-par 70 for a three-stroke victory over Ally McDonald.

The KPMG Women’s PGA winner way back on Oct. 11 in her last start, the second-ranked Kim won for the 12th time on the LPGA Tour to break a tie for third on the South Korean victory list with Jiyai Shin, behind only Inbee Park (20) and Se Ri Pak (25).

Kim was drenched in champagne during the victory celebration.

Sei Young Kim, of South Korea, gets doused with champagne after winning the LPGA Pelican Women's Championship golf tournament Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, in Belleair, Fla. (AP PhotoChris O'Meara)

“My friends put it on my head and then my T-shirt and everything,” Kim said. “Feel like take a shower in the champagne. I still smell. And then drink a little bit and feel -- feels, you know, like little drunk.”

The 27-year-old Kim is the first player to follow her first major victory with a win in her next start since Ariya Jutanugarn in 2016 in the Women’s British Open and CP Women’s Open.

“Always after win always got the extra confidence, so when I play, standing on the golf course, it feels very happy when I walk on the course,” said Kim, also a five-time KLPGA winner. “It's really great.”

Sei Young Kim, of South Korea, holds the trophy after winning the LPGA Pelican Women's Championship golf tournament Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, in Belleair, Fla. (AP PhotoChris O'Meara)

Kim finished at 14-under 266 at Pelican Golf Club in the first-year tournament originally set for the same week as the PGA Championship in May. After her victory last month at Aronimink in Pennsylvania, she took a trip home to South Korea during the long break.

“After the tournament I just want to relax and then feel fresh, make myself feel fresh, so don’t think about golf,” Kim said. “Just fun thing to do.”

McDonald birdied the last for a 68. She was coming a victory in the Drive On Championship-Reynolds Lake Oconee in Georgia, her first on the tour.

Sei Young Kim, of South Korea, tees off on the 18th hole during the final round of the LPGA Pelican Women's Championship golf tournament Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, in Belleair, Fla. Kim went on to win the tournament. (AP PhotoChris O'Meara)

“I’m really happy with how I played,” McDonald said. “I hung in there. ... So I’m really pleased. Obviously, following a win to get another second and be in contention, that’s all I can ask for.”

Stephanie Meadow was third at 9 under after a 69.

Lydia Ko (69) and Austin Ernst ( 68) were 8 under, and Brooke Henderson (69) was another stroke back with Jessica Korda (64), Angela Stanford (65) and Jennifer Song (65).

Ally McDonald hits from the rough on the 16th hole during the final round of the LPGA Pelican Women's Championship golf tournament Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, in Belleair, Fla. (AP PhotoChris O'Meara)

Top-ranked Jin Young Ko tied for 34th at 3 over after a 71 in her first LPGA Tour event of the year. No. 1 in the world for the last 68 weeks, she was home in South Korea since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kim is close to taking the top spot.

“It means a lot because world ranking No. 1 is my wish list in this year, so that’s my biggest goal in this year,” Kim said. “Before Olympic gold medal was my biggest goal in this year, but it cancel. Might be next year.”

Sei Young Kim, of South Korea, blasts from the sand trap on the 15th hole during the final round of the LPGA Pelican Women's Championship golf tournament Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, in Belleair, Fla. Kim went on to win the tournament. (AP PhotoChris O'Meara)

Sei Young Kim, of South Korea, waves to the gallery after making a birdie putt on the 14th hole during the final round of the LPGA Pelican Women's Championship golf tournament Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, in Belleair, Fla. (AP PhotoChris O'Meara)

Sei Young Kim, of South Korea, tees off on the 16th hole during the final round of the LPGA Pelican Women's Championship golf tournament Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, in Belleair, Fla. Kim went on to win the tournament. (AP PhotoChris O'Meara)

Stephanie Meadow, of Northern Ireland, tees off on the 16th hole during the final round of the LPGA Pelican Women's Championship golf tournament Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, in Belleair, Fla. (AP PhotoChris O'Meara)

Jin Young Ko had five back-nine birdies in a 7-under 64 at demanding Wilshire Country Club for a share of the second-round lead Friday with Nasa Hataoka in the DIO Implant LA Open.

Five strokes behind first-round leader Alison Lee after a 71, the top-ranked Ko moved into position for her second victory of the season in the first of two straight LPGA Tour events in the Los Angeles area.

“My putting was so good today,” Ko said. “I wasn’t expecting to play really well today because in the afternoon it’s always hard to play this course. But my putting was good, so I’m happy with it.”

Jin Young Ko waves to fans after sinking a putt on the first green during the second round of LPGA's DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoAshley Landis)

Hataoka birdied her final three holes for a 68 to match Ko at 7 under. Eighteen players were unable to finish the round because of darkness.

After dropping a stroke on the par-4 ninth, Ko birdied Nos. 11-14 and added her eighth birdie of the day on the par-4 17th.

“I didn’t think I played 5 under on the back nine,” Ko said. “I didn’t know that. I was in the zone.”

Jin Young Ko tees off at the second tee during the second round of LPGA's DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoAshley Landis)

The 26-year-old South Korean star won in Singapore early last month for her 13th LPGA Tour title. She won five times last year.

“I have two more rounds and nobody knows how it goes,” Ko said. “So working hard and focus on it and go get it”

Hataoka had seven birdies and four bogeys. The 23-year-old from Japan has five LPGA Tour victories, winning twice last season.

Nasa Hataoka tees off at the 17th tee during the second round of LPGA's DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoAshley Landis)

“The wind was pretty strong,” Hayaoka said. “The greens are pretty tight, narrow. So my plan was to hit the green, not try to be too aggressive. On the back nine, the wind kind of got weaker, so I was able to hit at the pin.”

Hannah Green was third at 5 under after a bogey-free 67. The Australian won her two LPGA Tour titles in 2019.

“I’m very pleased,” Green said. “I guess today’s round kind of felt like even more under par than what it was. I was pretty solid with my putting all day today which was nice because yesterday I had a couple three-putts.”

Nasa Hataoka, right, fist bumps her caddie, after sinking a shot on the 17th green during the second round of LPGA's DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoAshley Landis)

Fellow Australian Minjee Lee, the 2019 winner, had a 68 to match Haeji Kang (69) at 4 under. Inbee Park (67) topped the group at 3 under.

“You’ve got to really be careful how you play the holes — and you can’t get too greedy,” Park said. “Even though the course is short, it’s just really tough.”

Lee was 2 under, following her opening 66 with a 74.

Maddie Szeryk hits from the sand on to the first green during the second round of LPGA's DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoAshley Landis)

Defending champion Brooke Henderson, playing alongside Ko, shot 76-72 to miss the cut.

The Palos Verdes Championship is next week.

Inbee Park tees off at the fifth tee during the second round of LPGA's DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP PhotoAshley Landis)