CLIFTON, New Jersey – Rose Zhang won the Cognizant Founders Cup on Sunday to end Nelly Korda’s record LPGA Tour winning streak, rallying to beat Madelene Sagstrom by two strokes.
Zhang birdied four of the final five holes to overcome a three-stroke deficit in a thrilling final-round duel with Sagstrom after the two walked off the course on Saturday.
Zhang shot a 6-under 66, birdieing Nos. 14, 15, 17 and 18 at Upper Montclair Country Club. Sagstrom messed up the 16th in ’69.
Korda, who struggled the last two days after playing magnificently in winning the five straight events he entered, had a second straight 73 and tied for seventh at 7 under.
After his final shot, Zhang bent down and put his hands over his mouth, before walking over to hug caddy Oliver Brett. The two-time NCAA champion Stanford, who won last year at neighboring Liberty National in her professional debut, finished with a 24-under 264 overall — the best score in the three years the event has been held here.
It was a heartbreaking ending for Sagstrom, the 31-year-old Swede who started the day with a one-stroke lead and was seeking her first victory since 2020 and second overall on tour.
She led by three after 13, but Zhang curled in a birdie putt at 15 and made an eight-foot jumper on the next to tie at one. They tied after 16, with Sagstrom missing a 10-foot par putt after a poor shot on the back edge.
After Sagstrom saved par on the par-3 17th with a quick 25-foot downhill, Zhang took the lead with a short birdie putt.
Newcomer Gabriela Ruffels of Australia came in third place at 9 under, her best result. She shot 71.
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AP Golf:
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