Golf: Tom Kim wins second consecutive PGA Shriners Children's Open in final round

SouthKorea's TomKimcaptured hissecondconsecutivePGAShriners Children's Opentitleon Sunday, holding off Canada's Adam Hadwin down the stretch for his third careerPGAtitle. The 21-year-old from Seoul fired a five-under par 66 in the final round to complete 72 holes on 20-under 264 and defeat Hadwin by a stroke at TPC Summerlin in LasVegas.

Kimsank a 12-foot birdie putt at the 15th hole, Hadwin made a bogey at the par-5 16th and answered with a closing birdie but it was too little and too late. "Number three is so sweet,"Kimsaid.

"It was a long day,"Kimsaid. "I just really felt confident in myself and I was playing really well. If knew if I kind of just 'did me' I was going to be able to do it."

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Hadwin's 25-foot birdie putt at 18 left himsecondon 265, one shot ahead of Americans Eric Cole and J.T. Poston, Sweden's Alex Noren and Canadian Taylor Pendrith.

World number 16Kim, a runner-up in this year's British Open at Royal Liverpool, also won last year'sVegastitleand the 2022 Wyndham Championship but had not been able to add to his trophy haul.

Also Read:Tennis legend Rafael Nadal announces return date following lengthy injury layoff

"It has been a long season,"Kimsaid. "I'm very fortunate to defend. I've learned so much this year. It has been a blessing. It has been very humbling.

"Last year after going off such a great run, then not feeling exactly myself mid-year, it has been a grind trying to figure it out. "It's my first full season, just trying to live up to that expectation -- great year last year, how can it get better? It has been humbling."

Kimbirdied three of the first four holes before back-to-back bogeys at five and six dropped him out of the lead. Cole, son of pro golfers Laura Baugh and Bobby Cole, fired an early 62 to set the mark to beat. "Conditions were very good for scoring, no wind and greens were very good," Cole said. "And I switched back to an old putter today so that might have helped."

Noren reeled off three birdies in arowstarting at the par-3 eighth, then birdied the par-5 13th and 16th holes to match Cole in the clubhouse. That's whenKimmade his charge, sinking a three-foot birdie putt at the par-5 ninth and six-foot birdie putts at 12 and the par-5 13th to seize the lead alone at 19-under.

Hadwin battled into the hunt with three birdies in four holes, the last after driving the green at the par-4 15th and two-putting from 24 feet to reach 19-under. Kimanswered by sinking a 12-foot birdie putt at 15 to reach 20-under and again led alone.

Hadwin found water with hissecondshot at the par-5 16th and made bogey whileKimsank a tense five-foot par putt to lead by two and parred 17 and 18 as well to hold off the Canadian despite his late birdie.

Hadwin, ranked 56th, took his onlyPGAvictory at the 2017 Valspar Championship. He was also a runner-up this year to American Rickie Fowler at Detroit.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.