By Paul Bartelt
IPA Sports Editor
Carlsbad, Ca. LPGA Tour Hall of Fame member Inbee Park won the Kia Classic by five shots Sunday at Aviara Golf Club, earning her 21st professional golf victory. Park finished at -14 under par, with Lexi Thompson and Amy Olson in second place at -9 under par.
” I was here preparing for next week, ” said Park. “So excited about how well I played this week. The eagle at hole 16 was a big relief for me.” Playing in her first LPGA event of the year, Park shot 66,69,69 and 70 in todays final round while leding the tournament each day. Park had a five stroke advantage entering todays final round.
The top 14 players in the world were in this years KiA Classic. The par 72 Aviara Golf Club was designed by Arnold Palmer.
Park finised in second place at the 2019 KIA Classic ,as no tournament was played last year due to Covid-19. Winning $ 270 Thousand Dollars and a 2021 KIA Sorento on Sunday, Park has now won over 17 million dollars durring her 15 year career along with a gold Olympic medal in 2016 representing South Korea in Rio de Janeiro.
The KIA Classic was broadcast live on the Golf Channel.
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