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The Sun
8 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Lee and Im win first LPGA titles in playoff at the Dow Championship
THE Korean duo of Somi Lee and Jin Hee Im won the team format Dow Championship on Sunday, edging the American pair of Lexi Thompson and Megan Khang in a playoff at Midland Country Club. With the win, Lee and Im both became Rolex First-Time Winners in their second year on the LPGA Tour. The Dow Championship is the LPGA Tour's only official team event, where Rounds 1 and 3 are played using the foursomes (alternate shot) format, while Rounds 2 and 4 are contested in four-ball (best ball). Lee and Im had finished regulation play with a combined score of 20-under-par 260, following an eight-under-par 62 in the final day four-ball. Playing three groups ahead, Thompson and Khang had earlier signed in a superb 10-under-par 60 to set the clubhouse target. Both Lee and Im missed birdie putts on the final green for the outright win, forcing the playoff which reverted to alternate shot and was contested at the par-three closing hole. The Korean pair prevailed when Im hit her tee shot to eight feet of the pin and Lee made the putt, before Khang missed her five-foot birdie attempt on the low side. This was the first playoff at the Dow Championship since the tournament's inception in 2019. 'I can't believe it. Last year we were in our rookie season, and the LPGA is very tough and different than KLPGA. Now we are winners, so I'm so happy,' said Lee, who was making her second start in the Dow Championship following a T23 finish partnering compatriot Haeran Ryu last year. This was Im's maiden appearance in the Dow Championship. Both players were prolific winners on the Korea LPGA Tour, with Im winning six times and Lee being a five-time champion on the domestic circuit. Playing a limited schedule since the start of this year, Thompson has not won on the LPGA Tour since picking up her 11th tour title at the 2019 ShopRite LPGA Classic. The Dow Championship was her eighth tournament this year. American Lindy Duncan and China's Miranda Wang carded the day's low score of 59, moving up into tied third place on 18-under-par 262 with the Belgian-French pair of Manon De Roey and Pauline Roussin-Bouchard who closed with a 64. 54-hole leaders Albane Valenzuela of Switzerland and Sarah Schmelzel of the USA closed with a 66 and settled for outright fifth place on 17-under-par 263. 2024 champions Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand and Ruoning Yin of China finished tied 27th on 12-under-par 268. Following a one-week break, the LPGA Tour heads to Europe for a three-event swing which includes the final two Majors of the 2025 season – The Amundi Evian Championship (July 10-13) at Evian Resort in France and the AIG Women's Open (July 31-August 3) at Royal Porthcawl in Wales.
The Sun
8 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Lee and Im win first LPGA titles at the Dow Championship
THE Korean duo of Somi Lee and Jin Hee Im won the team format Dow Championship on Sunday, edging the American pair of Lexi Thompson and Megan Khang in a playoff at Midland Country Club. With the win, Lee and Im both became Rolex First-Time Winners in their second year on the LPGA Tour. The Dow Championship is the LPGA Tour's only official team event, where Rounds 1 and 3 are played using the foursomes (alternate shot) format, while Rounds 2 and 4 are contested in four-ball (best ball). Lee and Im had finished regulation play with a combined score of 20-under-par 260, following an eight-under-par 62 in the final day four-ball. Playing three groups ahead, Thompson and Khang had earlier signed in a superb 10-under-par 60 to set the clubhouse target. Both Lee and Im missed birdie putts on the final green for the outright win, forcing the playoff which reverted to alternate shot and was contested at the par-three closing hole. The Korean pair prevailed when Im hit her tee shot to eight feet of the pin and Lee made the putt, before Khang missed her five-foot birdie attempt on the low side. This was the first playoff at the Dow Championship since the tournament's inception in 2019. 'I can't believe it. Last year we were in our rookie season, and the LPGA is very tough and different than KLPGA. Now we are winners, so I'm so happy,' said Lee, who was making her second start in the Dow Championship following a T23 finish partnering compatriot Haeran Ryu last year. This was Im's maiden appearance in the Dow Championship. Both players were prolific winners on the Korea LPGA Tour, with Im winning six times and Lee being a five-time champion on the domestic circuit. Playing a limited schedule since the start of this year, Thompson has not won on the LPGA Tour since picking up her 11th tour title at the 2019 ShopRite LPGA Classic. The Dow Championship was her eighth tournament this year. American Lindy Duncan and China's Miranda Wang carded the day's low score of 59, moving up into tied third place on 18-under-par 262 with the Belgian-French pair of Manon De Roey and Pauline Roussin-Bouchard who closed with a 64. 54-hole leaders Albane Valenzuela of Switzerland and Sarah Schmelzel of the USA closed with a 66 and settled for outright fifth place on 17-under-par 263. 2024 champions Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand and Ruoning Yin of China finished tied 27th on 12-under-par 268. Following a one-week break, the LPGA Tour heads to Europe for a three-event swing which includes the final two Majors of the 2025 season – The Amundi Evian Championship (July 10-13) at Evian Resort in France and the AIG Women's Open (July 31-August 3) at Royal Porthcawl in Wales.
The Star
9 hours ago
- Sport
- The Star
Cool as ice - South Korean super duo Lee and Im win first LPGA titles after bagging the team-format Dow Championships in a playoff
MIDLAND, MICHIGAN - JUNE 29: Jin Hee Im and Somi Lee of South Korea pose with their trophies after the final round of the Dow Championship 2025 at Midland Country Club on June 29, 2025 in Midland, Michigan. -- The LPGA - Photo byMIDLAND, Michigan, USA: The Korean duo of Somi Lee and Jin Hee-Im won the team format Dow Championship on Sunday, edging the American pair of Lexi Thompson and Megan Khang in a playoff at Midland Country Club. With the win, Lee and Im both became Rolex First-Time Winners in their second year on the LPGA Tour. The Dow Championship is the LPGA Tour's only official team event, where Rounds 1 and 3 are played using the foursomes (alternate shot) format, while Rounds 2 and 4 are contested in four-ball (best ball). Lee and Im had finished regulation play with a combined score of 20-under-par 260, following an eight-under-par 62 in the final day four-ball. Playing three groups ahead, Thompson and Khang had earlier signed in a superb 10-under-par 60 to set the clubhouse target. Both Lee and Im missed birdie putts on the final green for the outright win, forcing the playoff which reverted to alternate shot and was contested at the par-three closing hole. The Korean pair prevailed when Im hit her tee shot to eight feet of the pin and Lee made the putt, before Khang missed her five-foot birdie attempt on the low side. This was the first playoff at the Dow Championship since the tournament's inception in 2019. 'I can't believe it. Last year we were in our rookie season, and the LPGA is very tough and different than KLPGA. Now we are winners, so I'm so happy,' said Lee, who was making her second start in the Dow Championship following a T23 finish partnering compatriot Haeran Ryu last year. This was Im's maiden appearance in the Dow Championship. Both players were prolific winners on the Korea LPGA Tour, with Im winning six times and Lee being a five-time champion on the domestic circuit. Playing a limited schedule since the start of this year, Thompson has not won on the LPGA Tour since picking up her 11th tour title at the 2019 ShopRite LPGA Classic. The Dow Championship was her eighth tournament this year. American Lindy Duncan and China's Miranda Wang carded the day's low score of 59, moving up into tied third place on 18-under-par 262 with the Belgian-French pair of Manon De Roey and Pauline Roussin-Bouchard who closed with a 64. 54-hole leaders Albane Valenzuela of Switzerland and Sarah Schmelzel of the USA closed with a 66 and settled for outright fifth place on 17-under-par 263. 2024 champions Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand and Ruoning Yin of China finished tied 27th on 12-under-par 268. Following a one-week break, the LPGA Tour heads to Europe for a three-event swing which includes the final two Majors of the 2025 season – The Amundi Evian Championship (July 10-13) at Evian Resort in France and the AIG Women's Open (July 31-August 3) at Royal Porthcawl in Wales. - The LPGA
The Advertiser
15 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
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. "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. The Dow Championship is the only official team event on the LPGA schedule. 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. "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. The Dow Championship is the only official team event on the LPGA schedule. 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. "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. The Dow Championship is the only official team event on the LPGA schedule. 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. "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. The Dow Championship is the only official team event on the LPGA schedule.
USA Today
15 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
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. 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. "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." 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. 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. "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."
