Meijer LPGA Classic
Korda Captures Second Win With Record Score
Nelly Korda closed with a fiveunder 67 at the Meijer Classic to become the first two-time winner on the LPGA Tour this season.
The 22-year-old American Korda finished at 25-under 263 to beat Ireland’s Leona Maguire by two strokes and break the tournament record at the Blythefield Country Club course in Michigan. She shot a career-best 62 in the third round to take a three-stroke lead into the final day.
“Honestly, there has been times where on Sundays I really haven’t enjoyed it. The stress kind of ate at me and I didn’t stay in the moment and enjoy playing golf on a Sunday in a final group.
“But today I really enjoyed it and it was actually a really good battle between Leona and I. She definitely kept me on my toes,” said Korda, who also won the
Gainbridge tournament in February. Maguire finished solo second after shooting a 66.
“If you told me at the U.S. Open that I was going to shoot 25 under I would be like, `Yeah, right. But I did a good bit of work back home. My dad was at every practice, a little boot camp with my dad.” said Korda.
She won the Gainbridge LPGA in Florida in the second event of the year after sister Jessica took the season-opening tournament. Younger brother Sebastian won tennis’ Emilia-romagna Open in Italy in May for his first ATP Tour victory.
Rebounding after missing the cut two weeks previously in the U.S. Women’s Open, Korda, ranked No. 4 in the world, has won her fifth tour title. She and the others used the Meijer Classic as a tune-up for the following Women’s PGA Championship in
the southern US city of Atlanta.
Korda started her final round with a three-shot lead after rolling in 11 birdies en route to a career best 62 in the third round. She joined a short list of players who have drained 11 birdies in a round, second only to Annika Sorenstam’s record 13 birdies in a 2001 LPGA Tour round.
With six birdies and three bogeys in the final round, Korda eagled the par-5 14th and pushed her lead to two strokes, increasing it to three with a birdie on the par-3 15th. Maguire pulled within one on the par-4 16th when she made a birdie and Korda had a bogey. They both parred the par-4 17th and Korda birdied the par-5 18th.
“I made an eagle and then I made a pretty good birdie on that par 3,” Korda said. “Unfortunately, I three-putted the next hole, but that’s golf. You’re going to make mistakes.”