In Kyung Kim will be one of the star attractions in next week’s ISPS HANDA Ladies European Masters at Golf Club Hubbelrath in Düsseldorf, Germany. The 28-year-old from South Korea is hoping to repeat the success she found at the tournament when it was played at Buckinghamshire Golf Club, England, in 2014.
Kim shot a one-under-par 71 in hot and sunny conditions to lie in a tie for 23rd place after the first round two years ago, but launched into contention with a second-round 68 to lie in a share of fourth place at the halfway point. She grabbed a four stroke lead with nine birdies in a women’s course record of nine-under-par 63 on day three and then cruised to a five stroke victory with a final round of 68 for a total of 18-under-par.
This was Kim’s second title on the Ladies European Tour, following her success at the 2009 Omega Dubai Ladies Masters adding to her three titles on the LPGA Tour: the 2008 Longs Drugs Challenge, 2009 LPGA State Farm Classic and 2010 Lorena Ochoa Invitational.
Her career highlights also include 11 top 10 finishes in Majors, including second at the 2012 Kraft Nabisco Championship and 2013 US Women’s Open. Currently ranked 75th in the world, Kim’s best finish from 13 appearances so far this year is tied sixth at the ShopRite Classic presented by Acer.
Kim will be joined in the ISPS HANDA Ladies European Masters by other top international players including the LET Order of Merit leader Beth Allen from the United States, who will defend the title she won last year at The Buckinghamshire, the LET headquarters in Denham.
The field is further boosted with the inclusion of 2016 tournament champions Isabelle Boineau from France, Nanna Koerstz Madsen from Denmark and Nuria Iturrios from Spain, winners of the recent Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open, Tipsport Golf Masters and Lalla Meryem Cup respectively.
Other top players in the field include five members of Europe’s 2015 Solheim Cup team: Melissa Reid, Gwladys Nocera, Sandra Gal, Caroline Masson and Caroline Hedwall, who are joined by former Solheim Cup players Laura Davies, Trish Johnson and Becky Brewerton.
There will be 19 Olympians in the field. Joining Madsen, Nocera, Gal and Masson are Nicole Broch Larsen, Marianne Skarpnord, Ursula Wikstrom, Klaar Spilkova, Ashleigh Simon, Noora Tamminen, Christine Wolf, Maria Verchenova, Chloe Leurquin, Giulia Sergas, Aditi Ashok, Maha Haddioui, Fabienne In-Albon, Miriam Nagl and Victoria Lovelady.
This is the Ladies European Tour’s first visit to Germany since the 2015 Solheim Cup at Golf Club St. Leon-Rot. Golf Club Hubbelrath was founded in 1961 and is considered one of the best golf courses in Germany. The German Open on the men’s European Tour was held at the venue eight times until 1994.
