Kim Hyo-joo failed to hold onto the lead in the final round of the LPGA Tour FM Championship (total purse of $4.4 million), finishing as the runner-up and falling just short of achieving her 10th career victory.

Playing the fourth and final round of the tournament at TPC Boston (par 72) in Norton, Massachusetts, on the 31st (Korean time), Kim shot a 1-under 71 with three birdies and two bogeys.

Recording a final total of 12-under 276, Kim finished two strokes behind China's Yin Ruoning, who shaved off two strokes with five birdies and three bogeys to claim the championship at a final total of 14-under 274, settling for second place.

Kim, who secured back-to-back victories at the Firnet Founders Cup and Ford Championship in March, sought her third win of the season and the 10th of her career but fell short, marking her second runner-up finish of the season following the Dow Championship in June.

On the other hand, when Kim Hyo-joo finished the 18th hole (par 5) with a par, Yin Ruoning shed tears of joy even before taking her birdie putt, and after sinking the winning putt, she claimed her first victory of the season and the sixth of her career.

The tournament winner's prize is $660,000 (approx. 910 million won).

Kim Sei-young, who entered the fourth round tied for second place, grabbed three birdies but faltered with one double bogey and two bogeys for a 1-over 73, tying for fourth place at a final total of 10-under 278.

Meanwhile, Yoo Hae-ran, the 2024 champion of this tournament who was eyeing her third win of the season, along with Im Jin-hee and Lee So-mi (all at 8-under 280), finished side by side in a tie for 9th place.

In addition, Ahn Na-rin (7-under 281) tied for 13th, Choi Hye-jin (6-under 282) tied for 17th, Kang Min-ji (3-under 285) tied for 27th, Yoon Ina (even par 288) tied for 44th, and Lee Dong-eun (1-over 289) placed in a tie for 50th.

World No. 1 Nelly Korda struggled to a final total of 1-over 289, finishing in a tie for 50th.

The decisive moment where Kim Hyo-joo missed out on the title was her bogey on the 16th hole (par 3) on this day.

Entering the fourth round trailing Yin Ruoning by one stroke in a tie for second, Kim seized the opportunity when Yin bogeyed the 10th hole (par 4), rolling in a birdie to jump to sole possession of the lead and turn the tables.

However, Yin Ruoning did not back down easily.

As Kim Hyo-joo saved par on the 12th hole (par 5), Yin picked up a birdie, bringing the two players back into a tie for the lead.

Kim and Yin kept the tension alive by matching each other with pars from the 13th to the 15th holes.

The match, however, was decided on the 16th hole.

Kim three-putted for a bogey, handing sole possession of the lead to Yin, who managed to secure a par.

Kim continued to experience bad luck on the 17th hole as her birdie putt circled the rim of the cup and spun out, forcing her to settle for a par and failing to close the gap with Yin.

Ultimately, on the 18th hole (par 5) where a birdie was a must, Kim's tee shot landed in the rough and her second shot found the bunker, allowing her to only manage a difficult par. With Yin finishing with a birdie, Kim had to concede the victory by two strokes.

Yin, who had gone without a win since her victory at the Maybank Championship in October 2024, savored the joy of her 6th career win after adding another title nearly 1 year and 10 months later.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)