Amundi Evian champion Grace Kim has taken a further step towards her goal of being a top 10 player in the world despite falling just short of victory at The Standard Portland Classic in Portland.

Seeking to add to her tally of two wins on the LPGA Tour, Kim began the final round within two strokes of the lead held by Japan’s Akie Iwai.

As Iwai (66) played superbly to keep the rest of the field at bay, Kim continued to press.

Leaning on a putter that was used less times that anyone else in the field over the course of the week, Kim made three birdies in succession from the 11th to draw within two before Iwai surged clear with birdies at 14, 17 and 18 to win by four strokes.

Kim’s tie for fifth was her third top-10 finish of the season and moves her up nine spots on the Race to CME Globe standings to No.22 as she continues to establish herself among the world’s best.

“It’s been obviously a positive thing to be in contention,” was Kim’s summary of the week and playing in the final group on Sunday.

“That’s where you want to be. I was talking to my caddie about it, just being in contention is also a good habit. Top 10 players are always in contention and that’s where I want to be at the moment.

“We are trending, so it seems really nice to be going into this three-week stretch on a high.”

It was a strong week also for Cassie Porter and Robyn Choi.

In her rookie season, Porter’s tie for 11th moved her up seven spots to 57th in the Race to CME Globe standings while Choi’s tie for 13th is a further boost to her chances of attaining full status for the 2026 season.

Elsewhere this week, Jess Whitting was tied 19th at the Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic on the Epson Tour and Abbie Teasdale’s tie for 37th was the best of the Aussies at the Ladies Slovak Golf Open.

Photo: Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images

Results
LPGA Tour
The Standard Portland Classic
Columbia Edgewater Country Club, Portland, Oregon
1          Akie Iwai                      67-67-64-66—264       $US300,000
5          Grace Kim                    68-65-67-70—270       $85,211
T11      Cassie Porter                70-70-66-67—273       $40,281
T13      Robyn Choi                  72-70-67-65—274       $33,946
T35      Gabriela Ruffels           67-70-73-70—280       $13,220
MC       Hira Naveed                 72-72—144
MC       Karis Davidson             75-70—145
MC       Hannah Green              73-73—146
MC       Su Oh                          76-71—147
MC       Sarah Kemp                 74-73—147
MC       Fiona Xu (NZ)               78-77—155

Epson Tour
Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic
Wildhorse Golf Course, Pendleton, Oregon
1          Erika Hara                    67-67-64—198 $US37,500
T19      Jess Whitting               69-69-69—207 $3,106
MC       Soo Jin Lee                   72-76—148
MC       Sarah Yamaki Branch    75-76—151

LET Access Series
Ladies Slovak Golf Open
TALE Ski Golf & Hotel Resort, Slovakia
1          Anna Backman             69-71-72—212 €8,000
T37      Abbie Teasdale             77-75-74—226 €437.50
T41      Belinda Ji                      78-73-76—227 €330
MC       Justice Bosio                75-78—153