First LPGA Wins
Gina Kim and Yana Wilson Secure First LPGA Tour Titles at Dow Championship
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Gina Kim and Yana Wilson won the Dow Championship on Sunday for their first LPGA Tour titles, closing with an 8-under 62 in best-ball play to finish at 17-under 263 at Midland Country Club in Midland, Michigan. The Americans defeated the South Korean duo of Hyo Joo Kim and Hye-Jin Choi by two strokes, overcoming a one-stroke deficit entering the final round. AP
The win came in Kim's 64th LPGA start and Wilson's ninth — a remarkable breakthrough for two players who only earned their tour cards last year via the Epson Tour developmental circuit. The pair, nicknamed 'Weapons of Grass Destruction,' split a winner's share of roughly $805,000, according to EssentiallySports.
An Eagle on Five Swings the Momentum
The turning point came early on Sunday. Gina Kim holed out from the fairway for an eagle on the par-4 fifth hole, a shot she called the 'tone-setter' for the entire round, according to San Mateo Daily Journal. That spark helped Kim and Wilson pull away from a South Korean team that had led at 10-under through 54 holes after shooting a third-round 69 in foursomes play.
Hyo Joo Kim and Hye-Jin Choi finished at 15-under after a final-round 65, unable to match the American pair's blistering pace. Kim summed up the week simply: 'This has been the most fun week... it's nice to have a really good friend to be able to do this by,' AP reported.
Two Epson Tour Graduates Make the Jump Together
Kim and Wilson's partnership was built before they ever reached the LPGA Tour. In 2025, Wilson finished second on the Epson Tour money list and Kim finished third, earning both players their LPGA cards. The two frequently played together in final groups on the developmental tour, building the trust needed for a team event, according to TSN.
Kim said she specifically asked Wilson to pair up for the Dow Championship because of that bond. Wilson, just 19 years old, admitted the closing stretch was anything but calm. 'We walked down 18 just now and we were like, does this feel weird to you? It's a little nervy out there,' she said, per AP.
Juli Inkster, 65, Makes History Just by Making the Cut
The tournament's other major story was Hall of Famer Juli Inkster. At 65 years and nearly 12 months old, Inkster made the 36-hole cut alongside partner Angel Yin — becoming the oldest player ever to make an LPGA cut. She broke a record set by JoAnne Carner more than 22 years ago, according to Golf Monthly.
Inkster and Yin tied for 12th place. Inkster kept her comments brief and gracious. 'I had a great partner. It's great. I'm happy I played,' she said, per LPGA Staff. Her performance reignited debate about longevity in women's sports and whether more 'legend' spots should be created for future team events.
What the Win Means for Kim and Wilson Going Forward
The victory carries real career weight. Both players now hold multi-year LPGA Tour exemptions. Wilson's win puts her in a strong position in the Rookie of the Year race. Each winner also earns 410 Race to CME Globe points, a key ranking that determines invitations to the season-ending championship, according to EssentiallySports.
The total purse for the Dow Championship was $3.3 million. The winning team took home roughly $805,381, or about $402,691 each. For Kim, who spent years grinding through 64 starts without a win, the payday and the trophy carry equal meaning. The Dow Championship remains the only official team event on the LPGA Tour, AP noted.
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