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A18 SPORTS
Saturday 23 November 2019
Kim stays 2 shots up, halfway to $1.5M at LPGA finale

By DOUG FERGUSON with 67s. The format for the
AP Golf Writer season finale changed this
NAPLES, Fla. (AP) — Sei year, from only the top 12
Young Kim wasted two in the Race to CME Globe
good birdie chances late have a chance at the $1
in the second round Friday million bonus to all 60 play-
when she got a pep talk ers in the field winning $1.5
from an unlikely source. million in official money just
Cristie Kerr was working as by winning the tournament.
a commentator for Golf Friday was critical not to
Channel, and on the long lose much ground.
walk to the 18th tee, she Jin Young Ko, who re-
told Kim that a strong fin- ceived her award Thursday
ish in the CME Group Tour as LPGA player of the year,
Championship would make shot a 69 and remained
dinner that much better. eight shots behind. Jeon-
"I just said, 'Yeah, I'm going geun Lee6, the U.S. Wom-
to make the birdie.' Yeah, it en's Open champion, felt
come true," Kim said. a burden lifted and shot 67.
She fired a 6-iron to the Sei Young Kim tees off on 7th hole during the 2019 CME Group Tour Golf Championship at the She had six birdies, twice as
perfect spot in the middle Tiburón Golf Club, Friday, Nov. 22, 2019 in Naples, Fla. many as the first round.
of the green and watched Associated Press The burden had nothing to
it roll toward the back pin gap to one shot until Kim said. "I'm excited to be just how it is." Looking to get do with the big prize. Lee6
until stopping less than 2 finished with her birdie. playing the weekend near a shot back on the 17th, was rookie of the year, and
feet away. Kim tapped in They will be in the final the top of the leaderboard, Korda instead hit a hard she gave a moving speak
for a birdie and a 5-under group on Saturday, moving so it should be fun." hook off the tee beyond in English before a full ban-
67, keeping her lead at closer to a shot at the $1.5 Also three shots back was the cart path and through quet room and without
two shots in the chase for million to the winner. Nelly Korda, the top Ameri- the dirt until it came to rest notes, having rehearsed
the richest prize in women's Brooke Henderson of Can- can in the women's world under a tree. it for two months. She re-
golf. ada began her second ranking at No. 3, who didn't "May be been a little ticked ceived the loudest ovation
Kim has made only one round with a double bogey finish so well. off," Korda said with a grin. of the night.
bogey over two rounds at on the par-5 opening hole. Korda provided the biggest "I did snipe it left into the "A lot of people this morn-
Tiburon Golf Club and was She finished much better, challenge to Kim all day, trees." She had no choice ing were cheering and
at 12-under 132. with five birdies over her fi- firing darts into the seventh but to pitch back to the then they were congratu-
Everyone around her had nal seven holes that put her and ninth greens for short fairway and did well to give lating me and then they
far more excitement, not squarely back into the mix birdie putts that gave her herself a birdie chance saw that, 'Oh, she did really
all of it good. with a 67, leaving her three a 31 on the front nine and with a shot into about 15 well with the speech,' and
Caroline Masson of Ger- shots behind. gave her a one-shot lead. feet, only to miss it. She I felt really good about it,"
many atoned for missing Henderson has a home not Korda was one shot behind made par on the final hole Lee6 said. "And I felt like
a birdie chance on the far from Naples and gets when she missed a birdie for a 68. Su Oh of Australia really good feelings about
par-5 17th by rolling in a a big following, many of putt on the par-3 16th, and had a 67 and was four be- today, so my shots and my
40-foot birdie putt from off them Canadians in Florida then shockingly missed the hind, while the group five putting were good so far.
the green and through the for the winter. 2-foot par putt. back included defending But I kind of want to try my
shadows on the final hole "Great crowd, great en- "It's not going to be the last champion Lexi Thompson best I can for the last two
for a 66 that closed the ergy out here," Henderson putt I miss," Korda said. "It's and Jessica Korda, both rounds."q

President Trump meets with 22 college championship teams

teams have become politi- Trump in the East Room of soccer team and Sean
cally loaded events during the White House. The letter Doolittle from the World Se-
Trump's presidency, and stated it only represented ries champion Washington
Friday's gathering was no the views of the four signa- Nationals, have declined
different. tories, fencers who com- the White House invitations
Elise Gout, a member of peted on the 2019 cham- from Trump. Others, like the
Columbia University's 2019 pionship team and gradu- NBA's Golden State Warriors
championship fencing ated earlier this year, and and the NFL's Philadelphia
team, said she and three of not Columbia University or Eagles, have been disin-
her teammates had hoped the fencing team. vited after players criticized
to present Trump with the White House spokesman the president. Others have
letter arguing that Trump Judd Deere said the Co- warmly embraced Trump.
has "perpetuated a culture lumbia fencers' visit with Trump, an avid golfer, spent
that conditions women Trump was cordial, and a few moments with each
President Donald Trump stands with members of Queens and minority gender iden- White House staff extend- team Friday, but he lin-
University of Charlotte Swim Team during the NCAA Collegiate
National Champions Day at the White House, Friday, Nov. 22, tities to be silent — to sac- ed an invitation for the ath- gered a little bit longer with
2019, in Washington. rifice the space they have letes and coach to come Stanford University's men's
Associated Press every right to take up." back to the White House at golf team. He invited all the
By AAMER MADHANI coaches from 22 collegiate But Gout said the athletes a later date to discuss any champs to come take a
Associated Press national championship were told by a Trump aide policy concerns they have. peek at the Oval Office.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- teams. Traditional White that they could not bring Some athletes, including "So far, nobody's turned
dent Donald Trump met House visits for champion the letter with them dur- members of the World Cup- that one down," Trump
Friday with athletes and college and pro sports ing their brief meeting with winning women's national joked.q