LPGA TOUR
Nelly Korda Wins Major Championship To Equal LPGA Tour Record
World No. 1 Nelly Korda is a rare talent! And, her remarkable winning streak continues. The 25-year-old American collected the LPGA’s first major championship of the year at The Chevron Championship to match the LPGA Tour record of winning five consecutive titles joining Nancy Lopez (1978) and Annika Sorenstam (2004-05).
Korda, who now owns two major championships and boasts 13 LPGA Tour titles, overcame Sweden’s Maja Stark by two shots. Korda produced all four rounds in the 60s with scores of 68, 69, 69 and 69 at The Club at Carlton Woods, Texas to get to 13-under. The Olympic Gold medalist started the final round one shot behind 54-hole leader Hae Ran Ryu before banking four unanswered birdies over the opening 10 holes on Sunday to stake the outright lead into the back nine. Korda dropped a shot at the 11th and 15th holes before making a clutch finish that included holing a six-foot par save at the 16th hole, hitting the flagstick with her tee shot at the par 3, 17th hole and making a stress-free birdie at the final hole.
Stark, aged 24, was looking for her second LPGA Tour title after winning the 2023 ISPS Handa World Invitational. The six-time Ladies European Tour winner birdied three of the last six holes for a bogey-free final round 3-under 69 to get to 11-under for outright second place.
American Lauren Coughlin and Canada’s Brooke Henderson finished at 10-under and in a share of third place. Coughlin, aged 31, fired the low round on Sunday with a superb 4-under 68 featuring seven birdies to eclipse her best finish on the LPGA Tour (T6 at the 2023 CPKC Women’s Open). Henderson, who carded an even par final round, fired an incredible 8-under 64 at the third round to vault into contention. The 26-year-old was looking for her third major victory. Henderson has amassed eight career top 5s at major championships.
Stephanie Kyriacou and Gabriela Ruffels were the best-placed Australians. Kyriacou signed for a 3-over 75 on Sunday to drop back to 1-over for the tournament and a tie for 40th place. LPGA Tour rookie Ruffels matched that event total after carding a 5-over 77 final round.
The LPGA Tour moves to California for next week’s JM Eagle LA Championship to be staged at Wilshire Country Club. Australia’s Hannah Green is the defending champion.
Final Scores
1. Nelly Korda -13
2. Maja Stark -11
T3. Lauren Coughlin -10
T3. Brooke Henderson -10
5. Hae Ran Ryu -9
6. Carlota Ciganda -8
7. Esther Henseleit -7
8. Jin See Im -6
Australians
T40. Gabriela Ruffels +1
T40. Stephanie Kyriacou +1
T54. Robyn Choi +4
T70. Sarah Kemp +10
T72. Karis Davidson +11
MC. Grace Kim
MC. Hannah Green
MC. Minjee Lee
MC. Hira Naveed
Image credit: Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
