South Korea’s Jin Young Ko overcame Australia’s Minjee Lee at the first playoff hole to win the Cognizant Founders Cup. Staged at Upper Montclair Country Club in New Jersey, the coveted title pay tribute to the 13 women who founded the LPGA Tour.
Ko collected her third Founders Cup victory and 15th career LPGA Tour title. The 26-year-old sensation posted the best score by the field on Sunday by two shots. Ko’s final round 5-under 67 got her to 13-under. The former world No. 1 produced a clutch performance on the final hole draining a 15-foot birdie putt to make the playoff with defending champion Lee. Ko replayed the 18th hole with a par to defeat Lee at the first extra hole. Lee made a three-putt bogey from 18 feet. The 27-year-old held a two-shot lead with three holes to play. Lee was searching for her 8th LPGA Tour win, which would have overtaken Rachel Teske (Hetherington) to own the third most LPGA Tour wins by an Australian. The pair rest behind World Golf Hall of Famers Karrie Webb (41) and Jan Stephenson (16).
South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai claimed sole third place at 10-under. The 34-year-old, who won the 2022 AIG Women’s Open, signed for a 2-under 70 final round. It was her fourth top 10 finish on the LPGA Tour this season. Buhai won the 2022 ISPS HANDA Women’s Australian Open at Victoria Golf Club.
Sydney’s Grace Kim continues to impress in her rookie LPGA Tour season. The 22-year-old finished in a tie for 10th place at 4-under. Kim broke through for her maiden LPGA Tour win last month at the Lotte Championship.
The LPGA Tour moves to Las Vegas in two weeks for the LPGA Match-Play to be staged at Shadow Creek.
Final Scores
Cognizant Founders Cup
1. Jin Young Ko -13
2. Minjee Lee -13
3. Ashleigh Buhai -10
4. Hae Ran Ryu -8
T5. Angel Yin -7
T5. Aditi Ashok -7
T5. Atthaya Thitikul -7
Other Australians
T10. Grace Kim -4
T13. Sarah Kemp -3
T31. Karis Davidson +1
T31. Stephanie Kyriacou +1
MC. Hannah Green
Photo credit: Mike Stobe/Getty Images
