2023 Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America prize money payouts for each LPGA player

The total purse for the event was $1.8 million.

Hyo Joo Kim earned $270,000 for her victory at the Ascendant LPGA, crossing the $2 million mark for the first time in her career. With $2,014,978 this season, the South Korean now has $8,617,877 in LPGA career earnings.

The total purse for the event was $1.8 million.

Bianca Pagdanganan earned $143,411 for a share of second, giving her a six-figure payday for a second straight week. Pagdanganan’s top-3 finishes the past two starts secured her card for 2024.

Monday-qualifier Katherine Muzi made $45,658 in her first LPGA start, which will go a long way in the early days of her pro career.

Lexi Thompson had only made $132,902 the entire season going into the Ascendant. She made $75,085 for her solo fifth in Texas.

Check out the prize money payouts at the 2023 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.

Position Golfer Score Earnings
1 Hyo Joo Kim -13 $270,000
T2 Bianca Pagdanganan -9 $143,411
T2 Atthaya Thitikul -9 $143,411
4 Sarah Kemp -8 $93,286
5 Lexi Thompson -7 $75,085
6 Cheyenne Knight -6 $61,433
T7 Katherine Muzi -5 $45,658
T7 Leona Maguire -5 $45,658
T7 So Yeon Ryu -5 $45,658
T10 Jodi Ewart Shadoff -4 $34,280
T10 Sarah Schmelzel -4 $34,280
T10 Frida Kinhult -4 $34,280
T13 Sarah Jane Smith -3 $28,092
T13 Yuna Nishimura -3 $28,092
T13 Celine Boutier -3 $28,092
T16 Ally Ewing -2 $22,753
T16 Marina Alex -2 $22,753
T16 Lindsey Weaver-Wright -2 $22,753
T16 Sofia Garcia -2 $22,753
T16 Nicole Broch Estrup -2 $22,753
T21 Xiaowen Yin -1 $19,477
T21 Weiwei Zhang -1 $19,477
T21 Wei-Ling Hsu -1 $19,477
T24 Jeongeun Lee6 E $16,746
T24 Jenny Shin E $16,746
T24 Yu-Sang Hou E $16,746
T24 Dottie Ardina E $16,746
T24 Maria Torres E $16,746
T29 Minami Katsu +1 $14,562
T29 Eun-Hee Ji +1 $14,562
T31 A Lim Kim +2 $11,945
T31 Aline Krauter +2 $11,945
T31 Hannah Green +2 $11,945
T31 Maria Fassi +2 $11,945
T31 Cydney Clanton +2 $11,945
T31 Azahara Munoz +2 $11,945
T31 Gerina Mendoza +2 $11,945
T31 Mariajo Uribe +2 $11,945
T39 Ana Belac +3 $8,750
T39 Min Lee +3 $8,750
T39 Lucy Li +3 $8,750
T39 Jaravee Boonchant +3 $8,750
T39 Yealimi Noh +3 $8,750
T39 Ruixin Liu +3 $8,750
T39 Jing Yan +3 $8,750
T46 Hyo Joon Jang +4 $7,190
T46 Gemma Dryburgh +4 $7,190
T46 Annie Park +4 $7,190
T49 Karis Davidson +5 $6,207
T49 Lauren Stephenson +5 $6,207
T49 Amelia Lewis +5 $6,207
T49 Louise Ridderstrom +5 $6,207
T49 Charley Hull +5 $6,207
T54 Chanettee Wannasaen +6 $5,279
T54 Maddie Szeryk +6 $5,279
T54 Pavarisa Yoktuan +6 $5,279
T54 Jennifer Chang +6 $5,279
T54 Emily Kristine Pedersen +6 $5,279
T59 Luna Sobron Galmes +7 $4,642
T59 Kiira Riihijarvi +7 $4,642
61 Gabriella Then +8 $4,460
T62 Caroline Inglis +9 $4,278
T62 Albane Valenzuela +9 $4,278
T62 Dewi Weber +9 $4,278
T65 Lauren Miller +10 $4,050
T65 Wichanee Meechai +10 $4,050
T67 Brittany Lang +11 $3,777
T67 Polly Mack +11 $3,777
T67 Pornanong Phatlum +11 $3,777
T67 Su Oh +11 $3,777
71 Paula Creamer +12 $3,596
72 Jeongeun Lee5 +14 $3,549
73 Ilhee Lee +16 $3,503

 

Hyo Joo Kim goes wire-to-wire at Ascendant LPGA to collect sixth LPGA title

Kim has now won on the LPGA in each of the past three seasons.

Hyo Joo Kim became the third player to go wire-to-wire on the LPGA this season at the 2023 Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America in Texas. The South Korean began the day with a five-shot lead and never wavered, clinching her sixth career victory with a closing 69. Kim finished with a 13-under total, four strokes ahead of Bianca Pagdanganan and Atthaya Thitikul.

“My results this year wasn’t bad,” said Kim, “but there was some disappointment because I didn’t have a win. I had a lot of the time to think just for myself, and before this year passes, I really want to win.

“This week I was able to accomplish that, and it was just a really happy week for me.”

With the victory, Kim earned $270,000 and crossed the $2 million mark in season earnings for the first time in her career. She has now won on the LPGA in each of the past three seasons.

The long-bombing Pagdanganan shot 30 on the back nine to close with a 65 and vault into a share of second. Her share of second, coupled with a T-3 last week in Arkansas, secures her LPGA card for 2024 in only 10 starts. Thitikul birdied five of her last seven holes, but no one could rattle Kim.

“Short game is pretty much everything in this sport,” said Pagdanganan, “so I’ve been just putting in more time with chipping, putting, everything around the green. I really can say that the last two weeks that’s kind of what saved my game.”

2023 Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America
Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand and Bianca Pagdanganan of the Philippines look on over the 16th green during the final round of the 2023 Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America at Old American Golf Club in The Colony, Texas. (Photo: Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

For Kemp, it was a step closer to securing her spot in the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship, which includes the top 60 and ties in the year-long points race. CME is a personal sponsor of Kemp’s.

“It’s all I want to make,” said Kemp. “It’s my sponsor’s event, so I want to make it for Terry Duffy. They have been so good to me. I just want to make it so bad for them.”

Lexi Thompson entered the final round in a share of second but ended the day solo fifth at Old American Golf Club. Still, Thompson was very happy with her play as she heads into the PGA Tour event in Las Vegas next week.

“I’ll definitely need my top game going into next week,” said Thompson. “Get that driver more in tune. Didn’t hit it too much on this golf course, but I’m going to need it I’m sure there.”

Past champion Cheyenne Knight, who lives nearby and practices at Shady Oaks Country Club, closed with a bogey-free 63 to move into sixth place.

“I wasn’t feeling that great this morning,” said Knight. “It’s just been I feel like I’m just a little bit tired just like since Solheim. Just kind of been going.

“Once I tee’d off I was like, all right, you got 18 more holes and then I get a break, because I’m not playing until Malaysia. Told myself to enjoy it and kind of put but things into perspective. My family is out here watching and kind of get out of my own way a little bit.

Monday qualifier Katherine Muzi, playing in her first LPGA event, tied for seventh. Muzi played college golf at USC and South Carolina, where she worked at the latter toward a graduate certificate in data and communication. Because next week’s LPGA stop in China is a limited-field event, Muzi’s top 10 in Texas does not get her in.

“The whole thing has been surreal,” said Muzi, “especially this being my first ever LPGA event. Like ever. And then I just a happen to be a pro just playing in it. It’s crazy.”