Latest news with #JinHeeIm
Toronto Star
a day ago
- Sport
- Toronto Star
South Korean duo win Dow Championship to deny Lexi Thompson a long-sought title
MIDLAND, Mich. (AP) — Somi Lee poured in an 8-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to team with fellow South Korean Jin Hee Im to win the Dow Championship on Sunday, denying Lexi Thompson her first LPGA title in six years. Thompson's partner, Megan Khang, had a chance to extend the playoff, but she missed a 5-foot birdie putt that was on the low side of the hole from the start.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lexi Thompson, Megan Khang come up short at Dow as South Korean duo wins first LPGA title
With no range on property at the Dow Championship to keep loose, Lexi Thompson did what she's known for on the LPGA – signed autographs. After draining a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-3 18th to give Team Biggie Smalls the clubhouse lead, Thompson and partner Megan Khang waited to see whether their 20-under total would hold up at Midland Country Club. As it turned out, South Korea's Jin Hee Im and Somi Lee had something to say about it. A birdie on the 17th from Lee brought them to the 18th tee in a tie with the Solheim Cup duo. As Thompson looked for her first title since 2019 and Khang for the first time since 2023, the relative newcomers, Im and Lee, were each searching for breakthrough wins. Advertisement Thompson and Khang watched from the clubhouse as Lee and Im – dressed in white – faced two chances to win it outright in the four-ball format. After Im's birdie attempt grazed the right edge of the cup, Lee pushed hers even more and they prepared for overtime. The foursome returned to the 18th tee for the playoff, but the format switched to foursomes (alternate shot). Thompson stepped up with her wedge from 144 yards and stuffed it to 5 feet. Lee followed, hitting hers past the hole about 9 feet. After looking shaky on the greens down the stretch, Im drained the putt for birdie to putt pressure on Khang. The must-make putt slid by the left edge. Advertisement "If I had it alone I can't make it," said Im. "I think we're best team ever." Lee and Im become the 50th and 51st South Koreans to win on the LPGA, respectively, and the first team to each make the Dow their first victory. The each earned $399,510 for their efforts. As for Thompson and Khang, this marked their first time playing the Dow together after successfully partnering at the 2023 Solheim Cup. "We stuck with the game plan that we decided at the beginning of the week," said Khang, "and Lexi hit a great shot in." Lexi Thompson gestures to fans while walking towards the 18th green during the final round of the Dow Championship 2025 at Midland Country Club on June 29, 2025 in Midland, Michigan. For the semi-retired Thompson, this marked her third consecutive week of competition. She held a share of the lead at the turn on Sunday at the Meijer LPGA Classic, also in Michigan, and contended at the toasty KPMG Women's PGA in Texas, ultimately finishing T-4 and T-12. Advertisement In eight starts this season, the 30-year-old has five top-15 finishes. While Thompson has stated she's taking an extended break after this, she has yet to reveal when she'll play next. After a week off, the LPGA heads to the Amundi Evian Championship in France for the fourth major of the season. Thompson last played the Evian in 2019. "Megan played some amazing golf this week," said Thompson. "I pulled together some good golf today. "It's just great to be alongside her. We have a lot of laughs and in between shots we are relaxed and have a good time. Like she said ham and egged it and had a good finish here." Lee and Im have 11 KLPGA titles between them and entered the Dow ranked 55th and 33rd, respectively, in the world. For Im, the Dow marked her first team event. Lee played last year in Midland with Hearan Ryu. Advertisement "So golf is always play alone, but this tournament is together," said Lee. "Yeah, I think it's so funny and very exciting. I love it, Dow, and Michigan. I love this weather and then this course. So, I like Michigan." This article originally appeared on Golfweek: LPGA Dow Championship 2025: Lexi Thompson, Megan Khang come up short
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
South Korean duo survive playoff for first titles in US
Somi Lee has poured in an eight-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to team with fellow South Korean Jin Hee Im to win the Dow Championship, denying Lexi Thompson her first LPGA title in six years. Thompson's partner, Megan Khang, had a chance to extend the playoff on Sunday, but she missed a five-foot birdie putt that was on the low side of the hole from the start. Thompson made an eight-foot birdie putt on the par-3 18th hole, with Khang still facing a six-foot birdie attempt, as the American duo closed with a 10-under 60 in the fourballs format. They were the first to post at 20-under 260. Lee made a 10-foot birdie putt to tie for the lead on the 17th. Im and Lee missed birdie chances on the 18th in regulation for the win. The playoff switched to foursomes. Thompson hit the tee shot on the 18th to just five feet right of the cup. Im went nearer the pin but eight feet long, setting up Lee for the winning putt. The first winning moment for Jin Hee Im and Somi Lee 👏 — LPGA (@LPGA) June 29, 2025 "Bummer to miss the last one in the playoff to force another hole, but very happy how we played," Khang said. Thompson has not won since the ShopRite LPGA Classic in 2019 and decided last summer to no longer play a full schedule. The Dow Championship was her eighth tournament this year. Im and Lee are in their second year on the LPGA Tour and this was their first title in America, though both were prolific winners on the Korea LPGA. Im has won six times on the KLPGA, while Lee has five KLPGA titles. "I can't believe it," Lee said after making her winning putt. Lindy Duncan and Miranda Wang had a 59 in the better-ball format and tied for third, two shots out of the playoff. They were joined by Manon De Roey and Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, who teamed up for a 64. Lindy Duncan getting it done ✅She chips in to tie the lead at -17 — LPGA (@LPGA) June 29, 2025 Albane Valenzuela and Sarah Schmelzel, who had the 54-hole lead, closed with a 66 and failed to make birdie over the final seven holes. They finished fifth, three shots behind. The Dow Championship is the only official team event on the LPGA schedule.
Globe and Mail
a day ago
- Sport
- Globe and Mail
South Korean duo win Dow Championship
Somi Lee poured in an eight-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to team with fellow South Korean Jin Hee Im to win the Dow Championship on Sunday, denying Lexi Thompson her first LPGA title in six years. Thompson's partner, Megan Khang, had a chance to extend the playoff, but she missed a five-foot birdie putt that was on the low side of the hole from the start. Thompson made an eight-foot birdie putt on the par-three 18th hole, with Khang still facing a six-foot birdie attempt, as the American duo closed with a 10-under 60 in the fourballs format. They were the first to post at 20-under 260. Lee made a 10-foot birdie putt to tie for the lead on the 17th. Im and Lee missed birdie chances on the 18th in regulation for the win. The playoff switched to foursomes. Thompson hit the tee shot on the 18th to just five feet right of the cup. Im went nearer the pin but eight feet long, setting up Lee for the winning putt. 'Bummer to miss the last one in the playoff to force another hole, but very happy how we played,' Khang said. Thompson has not won since the ShopRite LPGA Classic in 2019 and decided last summer to no longer play a full schedule. The Dow Championship was her eighth tournament this year. Im and Lee are in their second year on the LPGA Tour and this was their first title in America, though both were prolific winners on the Korea LPGA. Im has won six times on the KLPGA, while Lee has five KLPGA titles. 'I can't believe it,' Lee said after making her winning putt. Lindy Duncan and Miranda Wang had a 59 in the better-ball format and tied for third, two shots out of the playoff. They were joined by Manon De Roey and Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, who teamed up for a 64. Albane Valenzuela and Sarah Schmelzel, who had the 54-hole lead, closed with a 66 and failed to make birdie over the final seven holes. They finished fifth, three shots behind. Thompson did not indicate when she would play again. Next on the LPGA schedule is the Evian Championship in France, a major Thompson has skipped every year dating to 2019. The Dow Championship is the only official team event on the LPGA schedule.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
South Korean duo win Dow Championship to deny Lexi Thompson a long-sought title
MIDLAND, Mich. (AP) — Somi Lee poured in an 8-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to team with fellow South Korean Jin Hee Im to win the Dow Championship on Sunday, denying Lexi Thompson her first LPGA title in six years. Thompson's partner, Megan Khang, had a chance to extend the playoff, but she missed a 5-foot birdie putt that was on the low side of the hole from the start. Advertisement Thompson made an 8-foot birdie putt on the par-3 18th hole, with Khang still facing a 6-foot birdie attempt, as the American duo closed with a 10-under 60 in the fourballs format. They were the first to post at 20-under 260. Lee made a 10-foot birdie putt to tie for the lead on the 17th. Im and Lee missed birdie chances on the 18th in regulation for the win. The playoff switched to foursomes. Thompson hit the tee shot on the 18th to just 5 feet right of the cup. Im went nearer the pin but 8 feet long, setting up Lee for the winning putt. 'Bummer to miss the last one in the playoff to force another hole, but very happy how we played,' Khang said. Advertisement Thompson has not won since the ShopRite LPGA Classic in 2019 and decided last summer to no longer play a full schedule. The Dow Championship was her eighth tournament this year. Im and Lee are in their second year on the LPGA Tour and this was their first title in America, though both were prolific winners on the Korea LPGA. Im has won six times on the KLPGA, while Lee has five KLPGA titles. 'I can't believe it,' Lee said after making her winning putt. Lindy Duncan and Miranda Wang had a 59 in the better-ball format and tied for third, two shots out of the playoff. They were joined by Manon De Roey and Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, who teamed up for a 64. Advertisement Albane Valenzuela and Sarah Schmelzel, who had the 54-hole lead, closed with a 66 and failed to make birdie over the final seven holes. They finished fifth, three shots behind. Thompson did not indicate when she would play again. Next on the LPGA schedule is the Evian Championship in France, a major Thompson has skipped every year dating to 2019. The Dow Championship is the only official team event on the LPGA schedule. ___ AP golf:
