05/19/24 06:01:00
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05/19 17:59 CDT Nelly Korda wins Mizuho Americas Open by a stroke over Hannah
Green for her 6th victory in 7 events
Nelly Korda wins Mizuho Americas Open by a stroke over Hannah Green for her 6th
victory in 7 events
By TOM CANAVAN
AP Sports Writer
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) --- Nelly Korda won a back nine showdown with Hannah
Green of Australia with a par on the 18th hole to capture the Mizuho Americas
Open by a stroke Sunday for her sixth win in seven starts on the LPGA Tour this
year.
The victory made the 25-year-old American the first player since Inbee Park
(2013) to record six wins in a single season.
"Oh, my gosh, six," Korda said. "I can't even really gather myself right now
with that, the head to head that Hannah and I had pretty much all day. Wasn't
my best stuff out there today, but fought really hard on the back nine."
"It was just amazing to share the stage with Hannah."
Korda also bounced back from seeing her record-tying five-tournament winning
streak snapped last week by Rose Zhang at the Cognizant Founders Cup. Zhang
withdrew Thursday after three holes with an intestinal issue.
After playing the front nine in 2-over, Korda matched birdies with Green on the
10th, 13th and 15th holes at scenic Liberty National to stay tied with Green,
whose two wins this year made her the only other multiple winner on tour this
year.
Korda, the third-round leader by two shots, shot a final-round 71 and finished
at 14-under 274. Green had a 70 and finished at 275.
After Korda put her drive in the fairway on the the par-4, No. 18, Green pulled
her drive into the left rough. Her second to the green was short and left and
still in the rough. After Korda hit her approach to 15 feet from the hole,
Green's chip over a bunker landed 10 feet in front of the hole and then rolled
back a little.
Korda putted to tap-in range and finished out, while Green's putt to extend the
tournament to a playoff never touched the hole.
Korda then raised her hands and accepted the cheers from the crowd in this
event held with a view of the New York City skyline and Statue of Liberty in
the background.
Jennifer Kupcho, who lost this event in a playoff with Zhang last year,
finished tied for third with rookie Gabriela Ruffels of Australia and Ariya
Jutanugarn and Chanettee Wannasaen, both of Thailand.
Playing hours before the leaders teed off, Wannasaen had the best round of the
day with a 7-under 65. Jutanugarn had a 70, Kupcho shot 71 and Ruffels had a 72
in finishing third for the second straight week.
After being tied for the lead by Ayaka Furue of Japan and Kupcho with nine
holes to play, Korda and Green turned the tournament into a two-player race
with their matching birdies to open a four-shot lead over the rest of the
field. When one hit it close, the other followed.
Furue finished in a large group at 9-under.
The win was the 14th for Korda and she joined a list of players who have won
six times in a year since 1980: Betsy King (1989), Annika Sorenstam (1997,
2003), Karrie Webb (1999, 2000), Lorena Ochoa (2006, 2008), Park, Beth Daniel
(1990) and Yani Tseng (2011).
Korda earned $450,000, bringing her career earnings to $11,880,981 and her
season earnings to $2,943,708.
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
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