MEXICO CITY - Christina Kim snapped one of the longest winless droughts on the LPGA Tour with a wire-to-wire victory at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational on Sunday. The 30-year-old American claimed her first victory in almost a decade as she made a par on the second playoff hole to beat China's Feng Shanshan at the Club de Mexico Golf course.
"I'm at a loss for words right now," said Kim, who earned $200,000 for the win. "I've been through a lot. That has brought me some comfort knowing that with the downs come the highs." Entering this week, Kim had just two top-10 finishes on the season. She lost the only other playoff she has ever been in at the 2010 Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic. Kim fired a final-round, one-under 71, while Feng posted a six-under 66.
Kim entered the final round with a commanding five shot lead but let it slip away. She finished regulation tied with Feng at 15-under-par 273. Feng used four birdies on the back nine to catch Kim, who tripped to a bogey on number 18. But after both players made par at the first playoff hole, Feng stumbled to a bogey on the second playoff hole, giving Kim her first title since the 2005 Tournament of Champions.
The next closest golfer was world number one Park In-bee, who shot a four-under 68 to finish alone in third at 11-under 277. Brittany Lincicome (69) and Ryu So-Yeon (71) ended tied for fourth at nine-under 279. Defending champion Lexi Thompson shot a one-over 73 to finish tied for 15th at three-under 285.