Orlando, Fla. – A Lim Kim took the lead at the first round of the 2025 LPGA Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, showcasing her skills with an impressive bogey-free round of 7-under 65 on January 31, 2025, at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club. The South Korean golfer ended the day four strokes clear of her closest competitors, Jin Young Ko and Patty Tavatanakit, who both finished tied for second at 3-under 69.
Kim, 29, dominated the course showing exceptional accuracy and control; she recorded seven birdies, averaged 267 yards off the tee, and demonstrated remarkable putting with only 27 putts throughout the round. "My shot is good. Putting it good. Everything is good. Cool," Kim said, reflecting on her strong performance.
The tournament, which features champions from the last two years, saw five South Korean players among the elite field of 32 players. Kim's ability to maintain precision and consistency was notable, especially considering she had only two weeks of training since moving to Orlando. "I stayed in Korea for about three and a half weeks after the final match last year, and only moved to Orlando two weeks ago to train. So today's result is more surprising," said Kim.
Mentioned alongside Kim's strong showing, Jin Young Ko and Patty Tavatanakit's round included birdies but lacked the same consistency as Kim's. Ko, ranked among the top players on tour, voiced her confidence yet acknowledged the challenge of the course.
Elsewhere on the leaderboard, Rose Zhang made the decision to enter the tournament as she juggles her commitments at Stanford University. The young golfer, acknowledging her recent struggles with putting consistency, expressed her eagerness to implement new techniques. She said, "When you have a really comfortable setup or when you get a really consistent setup that's when you have the most confidence over a putt and you can just execute accordingly.”
Zhang entered the tournament as her second competition of the year, having only practiced sparingly during her academic commitments. Despite this, she managed to shoot 2-under 70, just five strokes behind Kim. "This time away from the grind also gives Zhang time to heal a left wrist injury,” as she reportedly said about her current focus on both her health and her sport endeavors.
On the other hand, the renowned golfer Lydia Ko, fresh off her success at the Paris Olympics, faced challenges on the course. Ko opened her season with a disappointing 1-over-par 73, finishing linked for 28th place after voiding three bogeys against one birdie on her back nine. She expressed her desire to achieve the career Grand Slam, stating, "If I could be alongside [the small group of players who have done it], it would be amazing." Ko commented on her aspirations to win the US Women’s Open and the Women’s PGA Championship this season as she pushes herself toward achieving this significant milestone.
The event brings together not just golfers but also celebrities, with former major league pitcher Mark Mulder leading the celebrity field. Players and fans alike came out to enjoy the first encounter of the LPGA season, eager to witness the potential stories and records to be carved throughout the championship.
With the tournament's total prize money of $2 million on the line, A Lim Kim set the pace for the remaining rounds, proving her capabilities right from the start. The excitement continues as the tournament progresses, and all eyes will be on Kim as she tries to fend off challenges from the impressive lineup of golfers eager to claim their victories.
Stay tuned for what could be another memorable season on the LPGA Tour as players strive for excellence both on and off the course!