Kim let slip the biggest third-round lead of the year before falling short on the third extra hole as world No.2 Lilia Vu stormed home to secure victory in her first tournament back from a two-month injury lay-off.
After starting the final round with a five-shot buffer, Kim frittered away the lead inside four holes before rallying valiantly to make a three-woman play-off at 17 under with Vu and retiring fellow American great Lexi Thompson.
All three displayed nerves of steel with a series of clutch putts to each birdie the first two play-off holes, both at the par-5 18th.
But only Vu could repeat the effort at the par-4 fourth, after getting up and down from a greenside bunker, to complete a memorable victory.
Her first start back after an injury and she's walking off the course as a champion!— LPGA (@LPGA) @TheLiliaVu is golden � pic.twitter.com/mkm7uBDjq0June 16, 2024
Despite the near miss, Kim remained upbeat after coming up second against a dogged rival who won two major championships in a 2023 season for the ages.
"I think going the three play-off holes with the player of the year last year, two major champions and obviously Lexi just being an icon for women's golf says a lot about my game I guess," Kim said.
"Obviously didn't get it done. Yeah, it sucks, but I think I can see myself in the future as well. Just how much I've grown as well.
"It's only my second year out, and to be in this position it's, as you can tell, overwhelming."
The play-off would not even have happened had Vu not overturned an eight-stroke final-round deficit with a Sunday 65 after Kim stumbled with a closing 73.
Barely a month after announcing she was walking away from the game at season's end, Thompson, a former US Open champion, also had the chance to win after fighting back from five shots behind Kim with a closing 68.
Instead, Kim and Thompson had to settle for a share of the runner-up prize - and a consolation $US235,000 ($A355,000) pay day - as Vu claimed her fourth victory in little more than a year.
A two-time major champion last year, Vu edged closer to the world No.1 ranking she relinquished this season to compatriot Nelly Korda.
World No.2 Lilia Vu holds aloft the Meijer LPGA Classic trophy. (AP PHOTO)
Kim, meanwhile, will rue blowing another golden opportunity to post a second US victory in as many years on the world's richest tour.
The 23-year-old also squandered a four-shot halfway lead at the LA Championship in April, when fellow Australian Hannah Green stole her thunder.
On this occasion, the 23-year-old regrouped admirably to have three chances to atone with a winning putt on the 18th hole at Belmont's Blythefield Country Club.
Alas, the Sydneysider couldn't and will likely be haunted for some time.
9°C