Sports
A Lim Kim Wins 2025 LPGA Season Opener Over Nelly Korda; Joe Pavelski Takes Celebrity Title
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – The 2024 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions brought together 32 of the LPGA’s top players and a star-studded lineup of celebrities at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club. The event featured two prize purses: a $2 million purse for LPGA professionals and a $500,000 purse for celebrities.
A Lim Kim Claims Victory with Dominant Performance
A Lim Kim, the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open champion, secured a two-stroke victory over World No. 1 Nelly Korda, earning her second career LPGA title and taking home a $300,000 winner’s prize.
- Kim shot a final-round 67 (-5), sinking a nearly 20-foot birdie putt on No. 18 to seal the win.
- She led the field in birdies (24) and was the only player to shoot all four rounds in the 60s (65-69-67-67).
- Kim also excelled in par-5 scoring, a key factor in both this victory and her 2024 LOTTE Championship win.
- Her 72-hole score of 268 tied her career-low, matching her performance at the 2022 CPKC Women’s Open.
- This marks Kim’s second wire-to-wire win, making her the first player since Hyo Joo Kim (2023) to win wire-to-wire without ties.
- She also secured victory in her first tournament with new caddie Bruce Lowe.
Nelly Korda Finishes Runner-Up
World No. 1 Nelly Korda mounted a strong challenge with a final-round 65 (-7), but ultimately fell two strokes short.
- Korda recorded nine birdies and two bogeys on Sunday.
- She tied Kim for most birdies in the tournament (24).
- With this result, she notched her best career finish at the HGVTOC and fifth top-4 finish at the event.
Other Notable Finishes
- Linn Grant (-3, 69) finished in solo third, her best LPGA finish since the 2024 Dana Open.
- Minjee Lee shot a career-low 10-under 62 on Sunday, moving from T12 to T4.
- Defending champion Lydia Ko (-13) finished solo sixth after recovering from three early bogeys.
Joe Pavelski Wins Celebrity Division
Recently retired NHL All-Star and Olympian Joe Pavelski made a statement in his HGVTOC debut, winning the celebrity division with 145 points under the Modified Stableford format.
- Pavelski edged out 2024 champion Jeff McNeil by five points to claim the $100,000 first-place prize.
- Asterisk Talley, 15, won the amateur field with 149 points, playing from the same tees as LPGA professionals.
Looking Ahead
With a commanding wire-to-wire performance, A Lim Kim has established herself as a force to watch in 2024. Nelly Korda, Linn Grant, and Minjee Lee will look to build on their performances as the LPGA season continues.
J Willie David, III
Florida National News and FNN News Network
sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
Davison scores 26 points, Branham adds 23 and Osceola records 23 steals to open its season with a victory at Silver Spurs Arena.
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The Osceola Magic opened their season with a record-setting defensive performance, collecting 23 steals and forcing 35 turnovers in a 97-89 victory over the Oklahoma City Blue on Sunday, Nov. 8, at Silver Spurs Arena.
JD Davison scored a game-high 26 points and Malaki Branham added 23 as Osceola established a franchise record for steals and matched its record for opponent turnovers. Osceola Magic
Defense drives the comeback
Oklahoma City led 31-22 after the first quarter and 44-43 at halftime. Osceola pulled even at 70 entering the fourth quarter, then outscored the Blue 27-19 over the final period.
The victory gave Osceola a 1-0 start and dropped Oklahoma City to 0-2. Zhaire Smith led the Blue with 19 points, while Christoph Tilly contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds. gleague.nba.com
Osceola’s defensive pressure helped offset Oklahoma City’s early advantage. The Blue finished just 5 of 29 from 3-point range, shooting 17.2%.
Six Magic players recorded multiple steals, led by Johnell Davis’ career-high six — one short of the franchise record. Davison collected four, Jarron Cumberland had three, and Ace Baldwin Jr., Branham and Mike Sharavjamts each added two.
Malaki Branham leans into his drive while keeping his dribble low as an Oklahoma City Blue defender guards him during the Osceola Magic’s season opener. Photo by Bernie Walls / Florida National News.
Davison and Branham lead the offense
Davison and Branham combined for 49 points, accounting for more than half of Osceola’s scoring.
Au’Diese Toney contributed 14 points in his return to Osceola, including a late 3-pointer that helped secure the victory.
Davis provided another boost off the bench with 11 points and a career-best-tying four assists, complementing his disruptive defensive performance.
Sharavjamts makes professional debut
Sharavjamts posted a team-best plus-12 rating in 24 minutes during his professional debut. Osceola outscored Oklahoma City by 12 points while he was on the floor. Osceola Magic
What’s next for the Osceola Magic?
Following a scheduled road matchup with the Memphis Hustle on Tuesday, Nov. 10, Osceola returns to Silver Spurs Arena to host the Mexico City Capitanes on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. Eastern. Member News
The Magic’s challenge will be to sustain the defensive pressure that helped them overcome an early nine-point deficit in the opener.
NEW YORK CITY, NY (FNN SPORTS) – LIV Golf plans to begin winding down operations Monday, Nov. 9, following five years and more than $5 billion in spending.
Attorney Matthew Williams outlined the league’s plans during a bankruptcy court hearing Thursday, Nov. 5, in New Jersey. The process includes selling its remaining assets.
“We believe the wind down path is the best path,” Williams told the court.
LIV Golf confirmed the decision after a proposed restructuring deal fell through. The league said it will continue considering alternatives during the shutdown process.
TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — On Monday November 2, at the Yuengling Center, the South Florida women’s basketball team opened with a successful debut undernew head coach Kristy Curry.
The Bulls established control early with a 9–0 opening run, taking a 27–12 lead after the first quarter. Furman narrowed the margin before halftime, but South Florida maintained a 46–32 advantage heading into the break.
A dominant third quarter proved decisive, as USF outscored Furman 23–9 to extend its lead to 69–41 entering the fourth.
Balanced Scoring Leads the Bulls
Stefanie Ingram led South Florida with 15 points, followed by Hannah Kohn with 13 and Kendall Puryear with 12 points and nine rebounds.
The Bulls placed six players in double figures, shot 51.6 percent from the field and controlled the boards with a 48–25 rebounding advantage.
A Winning Debut for Kristy Curry
The victory marked Curry’s first win leading South Florida after arriving from Alabama.
Ahead of the season opener, Curry expressed confidence in the program’s potential:
“I’m so excited to be here. I truly think the sky’s the limit at USF.”
— Kristy Curry, USF Head Coach, in pregame remarks published by USF Athletics.
South Florida (1–0) will face Belmont on Friday, November 6, in Nashville, Tennessee.
– Nisey Spruill is a reporter and photojournalist for Florida National News (FNN), covering major news, sports and special events across Florida and nationwide. Contact sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
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