Sei Young Kim picks up third 2015 LPGA win at Blue Bay

Sei Young Kim is a winner for the third time in her rookie LPGA season, taking the Blue Bay LPGA on China’s Hainan Island on Sunday by a shot.

Kim, who started the day tied with Candie Kung for the lead, shot a final round of 2-under 70 to secure a victory over Kung, Kim Kaufman and Stacy Lewis, who was looking for her first win in 2015. The South Korean-born rookie overcame a bogey on the par-3 17th with a 7-foot birdie on the par-5 closing hole to lock up the win.

“I was like really nervous on the last putt,” said Kim. “I can hear my heart pound.”

Lewis, playing alongside Kim and Kung, had a two-shot edge heading into the 13th hole. However, a bogey-birdie swing between the two players erased her advantage. Kim took the outright lead with a birdie on the 14th hole.

It would seem Kim has a knack for the dramatic. She won her first two events this season in playoffs, now this one by a single shot.

World No. 1 Lydia Ko shot 2-under 70 in the final round to improve from a tie for 20th to a tie for eighth place. With the win, Kim only trails Ko (five) and Inbee Park (four) for most wins on the LPGA this season.

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

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