LPGA TOUR
Chevron Championship
Kupcho Wins Major at Chevron Championship
America’s Jennifer Kupcho became a major champion winning her maiden LPGA Tour title at the Chevron Championship. After claiming the historic victory, Kupcho took the famous winners' jump into Poppie’s Pond located beside the 18th green. It’s a tradition that began after Amy Alcott's triumph in 1988 when the event was known as the Nabisco Dinah Shore Championship.
Kupcho, aged 24, was a former number one ranked women's amateur golfer in the world. In 2019, she won the inaugural Augusta National Women's Amateur after passing up the opportunity to compete at this event staged at The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, California.
The Colorado-born golfer took a six-shot lead into the final round after firing her career-low round on the LPGA Tour with an 8-under 64 on Saturday. The sensational round gave her a tournament-record 16-under total after 54 holes. Kupcho extended her lead to seven shots early on Sunday. The margin narrowed to just two shots over Jessica Korda after 14 holes. Kupcho steadied her round with a tap-in birdie at the par 4, 15th hole. Moments earlier, Korda bogeyed the 15th hole. Kupcho dropped another shot at the par 3, 17th hole to still hold a comfortable three-shot lead down the 72nd hole. The 2019 Evian Championship runner up could afford another bogey at the final hole for a two-shot win.
Korda, who battled back spasms during her final round, fired a final round 3-under 69. The 29-year-old American, who won the 2012 Women’s Australian Open in a six-player playoff, was searching for her maiden major title.
Slovakia’s Pia Babnik finished one shot further back at 11-under and in outright third place. The 18-year-old scored a stunning 6-under 66 on Sunday.
Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit was hoping to make history as the first player to win this championship in back-to-back years since it was recognised as a major in 1983. The 22-year-old, who was paired with Kupcho in the final group, ended her title defense with an even par round to remain at 10-under and in a share of fourth place.
Hannah Green was the best-placed Australian. The 25-year-old from Perth produced a final round 2-under 70 to reach 8-under and finish in a tie for 8th place. Minjee Lee posted a final round 3-under 69 to finish at 7-under and in 12th place.
Final Scores
Chevron Championship
1. Jennifer Kupcho -14
2. Jessica Korda -12
3. Pia Babnik -11
T4. Hinako Shibuno -10
T4. Celine Boutier -10
T4. Lexi Thompson -10
T4. Patty Tavatanakit -10
T8. Nanna Koerstz Madsen -8
T8. Alison Lee -8
T8. Hyo Joo Kim -8
T8. Hannah Green -8
Other Australians
T12. Minjee Lee -7
T25. Gabriela Ruffels -4
MC. Su Oh
MC. Sarah Kemp
Photo credit: Harry How / Stringer
