By Elle Chavis
MIDLAND, Mich. – It may have been a cloudy, rainy start to the final round at the 2026 Dow Championship, but when the final putt dropped on 18, the sun finally peaked out as Gina Kim and Yana Wilson secured their first LPGA Tour wins of their careers.
Going into Sunday, it was the South Korean duo of Hye-Jin Choi and Hyo Joo Kim who held the one stroke, 10-under par lead over Gina Kim and Wilson, with Alison Lee and Lilia Vu sitting in third place.
Throughout the afternoon, the leaderboard continuously shuffled with the three teams vying to pull away from one another. 2025 Champions Jin Hee Im and Somi Lee made a late surge up the leaderboard— turning in a 9-under 61—as they looked to become the first repeat champions in the tournament’s history.
But it was the ‘Weapons of Grass Destruction’ as the duo called themselves, who ended up taking home the victory. The duo first vaulted in front of Choi and Hyo Joo Kim to the top of the leaderboard after Gina Kim eagled at the fifth hole to put them at 12-under par. Choi and Hyo Joo Kim, though, rallied back for the tie at hole seven and the teams would remain tied for the rest of the front nine.
It was on the back nine where Gina Kim and Wilson finally pulled away. A birdie from Wilson on the 10 gave the LPGA Tour rookie and her partner the lead, and from there it would only grow. By the time the duo approached the 18th for the par-3 finish, they held the two-stroke lead which was just enough for the duo to hang on for the victory.
Playing in the leading group on Championship Sunday can make some players complacent or ratchet up their nerves, but Kim and Wilson relied on their trust in each other and their trust in their game to stay calm and focused, knowing the leaderboard could quickly change.
“We both did a really good job today at just not getting too far ahead of ourselves. It's really easy to do when you're in the leading group and not chasing anymore,” Wilson said. “At least for me, I found some goal of mine just to chase, and I just set a score out there and just trying to make as many birdies as I can.”
The impromptu goal setting certainly paid off. The victory gives Kim and Wilson LPGA Tour winner status which guarantees them a two-year LPGA Tour exemption and entry into each of the major championships.
“Not to sound dramatic, but it really changed the trajectory of my career,” Kim said of the victory.
For at least the next two years, gone are the grueling days of playing in qualifiers before tournaments, lifting a weight off of their shoulders. The joy on both of their faces as they heard all the perks that come along with their win was palatable.
Kim credits her collegiate days playing for Duke University for preparing her to play in the unique team format of the Dow Championship.
“Ever since I went to Duke and came out and obviously enjoyed a lot of success there, I truly believe that this is kind of one of my comfort zones,” the Durham, N.C., native said. “Being able to rely on your partner really makes a difference out here, especially when you got two other players that you got to go up against.”
Kim has played in the Dow Championship four times, though this is her first time pairing up with the rookie Wilson. The two have played together multiple times on the Epson Tour and watched each other’s games closely.
“It was pretty much a no-brainer for me to pick Yana and trust her, and I personally trusted her more than myself,” Kim said.
“She's such a grinder and I feel like I am too,” Wilson said of her partner. “I just love someone that works hard and that just like always shows up and doesn't complain.”
The showing up and not complaining does not stop for the two as they both will play in the nearby Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give next week. Both said the winning outcome of the weekend will fully sink in somewhere between Midland and Grand Rapids and will give them boosted confidence to play on the greens at Blythefield Country Club.
Kim and Wilson will split the winner’s share of $805,381, with each player taking home $402,691.
