Kupcho wins Meijer Classic after ‘close battle to the end’
BELMONT: Jennifer Kupcho survived a roller coaster of a round to win the Meijer LPGA Classic with a birdie at the second play-off hole, denying 2021 champion Nelly Korda and Irish Solheim Cup star Leona Maguire on Sunday.
After failing to clinch the play-off at the first hole where she missed an eagle putt from inside four feet, Kupcho twoputted from the fringe at the second play-off hole, again the par-five 18th, to seal it.
Maguire had a chance to extend the play-off, but her two-foot birdie putt lipped out.
Korda was eliminated with a par at the first play-off hole as both Kupcho and Maguire came up with birdies.
“It’s been really special,” said Kupcho, who added a second LPGA victory to the major title she captured at the Chevron Championship in April.
“I mean, this leaderboard was stacked. I think that’s what I’m most proud of is the players that were up there with me — it was a very close battle to the end and I’m proud of it.”
Kupcho started the day one off Korda’s lead and was in trouble early with a double bogey at the third and a bogey at the sixth.
She regrouped to card a one-underpar 71 for an 18-under total of 270, where she was joined by Korda — who needed a birdie at the 72nd hole to cap an even-par round and make the playoff — and Maguire, who stormed to the top with a seven-under par 65 round on Sunday.
New Zealand’s former world No.1 Lydia Ko was alone in fourth after a bogey-free 68 for 271.
Kupcho, who opened the week with a career-best 63 and also led after the second round, rolled in a long eagle putt to start turning things around at the eighth.
She added a birdie at the ninth then saw another long birdie putt curl just enough to drop into the side of the cup at 12.
She would add another birdie to take a one-shot lead, but a bogey at 16 dropped her back into a tie.