Jin Young Ko had four shots to make up in the final round of the Cognizant Founders Cup, which took place in May. She won the Cognizant Founders Cup in May, the biggest comeback on LPGA this year.
Ko started the final round of CPKC Women’s Open on Sunday in Canada at 6 under par, just five shots behind the leader Meghan Kang. Is another big come-from behind win on the horizon?
Ko, who was leading the clubhouse, finished the round with 9 under par after missing the green on the left side of the hole.
Kang was 8 under par after a bogey at No. Her best shot was on hole 17, where she stuffed her second shot to just five feet. Kang had to make her fifth birdie to force a play-off. There were only four birdies on the 18th all day.
Kang, in her 191st start of her career and in search of her first LPGA victory, calmly putted in a 2-over-74 to get into her career’s first playoff.
Ko was the first to tee off on the first playoff, but she swung her tee left. Kang’s tee shot was striped down the fairway and then she hit an approach that was similar to her regulation shot, but her ball rolled a little further, nestling into the fringe. Ko’s third drive, on the other hand, found a bunker at the greenside. After blasting out of it, she had to face a 40-footer as a bogey, but missed and took a 6.
Kang then putted to the edge of the green and about a foot, before holeing out to par for her first LPGA win.
She told Golf Channel moments after the win that her game had “been trending” and had matured over the past couple of years. It was just a matter time.
Kang, who is already a Solheim Cup team member for the U.S., spoke to other members of this squad that have won in order to get some inspiration.
She said, “I am so excited to get my first one.”
Kang becomes the ninth LPGA winner to win for the first time in 2023. She won $375,000.
Brooke Henderson, the Canadian favourite, finished in a tie for 13th place. Alexa Pano tied for 22nd, a week after winning her first LPGA title. Nelly Korda tied for 32nd after shooting a pair 75s on the weekend. Lydia Ko shot an 82 on the Saturday, finishing at 13 over par and last amongst all golfers that made the cut.
