Defending champion Hyo-joo holds off Korda challenge to clinch LPGA Ford Championship

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kim-hyo-joo/dxzpYqCq/"]Kim[/a], who had set the LPGA 54-hole scoring record at 25-under on Saturday, fired a three-under par 69 for a 28-under total and a two-shot win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/korda-nelly/4OpkdK7D/"]Korda[/a] at Whirlwind Golf Club in Phoenix, Arizona.[/p][p][b]"It feels fantastic,"[/b] said Kim, the world number four who last week withstood a late surge by Korda to win the Founders Cup by one stroke.[/p][p]She had more breathing room on Sunday after firing impressive 61s in the first and third rounds, starting the day with a four-shot lead and picking up birdies in three of her first seven holes.[/p][p]A double bogey at the eighth cut her lead to one stroke, but she responded with birdies at 10 and 12 that pushed her lead back to four.[/p][p]After a bogey at 16, Kim nabbed her last birdie of the day at the par-five 17th.[/p][embed guid="f71f6293-3946-4473-8c80-45ba7d987624" url="https://x.com/LPGA/status/2038460204631633929" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"Hyo-joo has been playing amazing golf,"[/b] said Korda, who had two eagles and four birdies in her five-under 67 for 262.[/p][p]Kim, 30, bagged her ninth LPGA title, making her first successful title defense and claiming multiple wins in a season for the first time.[/p][p][b]"It has been inspiring to see,"[/b] said Korda after being alongside the South Korean for a second straight weekend. [b]"Playing with her, I definitely elevate my game."[/b][/p][p]Korda made sure of solo second place with a bravura finish that featured an eagle at the 17th and a birdie at the last.[/p][embed guid="0069a9d7-5846-4595-b9ef-fb42eea355ef" url="https://x.com/LPGA/status/2038431669699621049" social-type="twitter" /][p]Japan's Minami Katsu had charged up the leaderboard with seven birdies in a seven-under 65, her 23-under total briefly pulling her level with Korda before she settled for third.[/p][p]Korda, who claimed her first win since her seven-title 2024 season when she captured the season-opening Tournament of Champions, said she had little to fault in her game.[/p][p][b]"I mean, two eagles today,"[/b] Korda said. [b]"Made some solid putts, missed one or two that I wish I could get back, but that's just golf.[/b][/p][p][b]"(I'm) just excited with the way my game is going and I'm excited to keep improving."[/b][/p]