Jennifer Kupcho wins LPGA Meijer Classic in playoff

BELMONT, Mich. — After missing a 2-foot eagle putt on the first hole of a playoff, Jennifer Kupcho acquired the LPGA Meijer Primary on Sunday when Leona Maguire‘s 3-foot birdie attempt lipped out on the second additional hole.

Kupcho closed with a 1-under 71 to match having fun with companion Nelly Korda and Maguire at 18-under 270 at Blythefield Nation Membership. Maguire accomplished with a 65, and birdied every playoff holes.

“It’s truly explicit,” Kupcho acknowledged. “I’ve been truly shut, nonetheless this leaderboard was stacked. I really feel that’s what I’m most happy with, is the players which were up there with me. It was a very shut battle to the highest and I’m happy with it.”

Korda, the winner ultimate yr, had a 72 after taking a one-stroke lead over Kupcho into the last word spherical. Korda dropped out of the playoff with a three-putt par on first additional journey down the par-5 18th.

Kupcho acquired for the second time on the LPGA Tour, following her primary victory in early April at Mission Hills throughout the California desert. The 25-year-old former Wake Forest star from Colorado acquired the inaugural Augusta Nationwide Women’s Novice in 2019.

Kupcho obtained off to a sluggish start with a double bogey on the par-4 third and a bogey on the par-4 sixth. She rebounded with an eagle on the par-5 eighth and birdie on the par-4 ninth. On the once more 9, she birdied the par-4 twelfth and par-5 14th and bogeyed the par-4 sixteenth.

“I struggled just a bit bit to start with, so it tells me I can truly come once more from it,” Kupcho acknowledged. “I’ve always acknowledged I’m a back-nine participant and that positively bought right here into affect for the time being.”

Maguire acquired the LPGA Drive On Championship at Crown Colony in early February to alter into the first Irish winner in LPGA Tour historic previous.

The second-ranked Korda made her second start since coming back from a four-month break because of a blood clot in her left arm. She tied for eighth two weeks prior to now throughout the U.S. Women’s Open in her first event since early February.

“Sadly, usually you can have it and customarily you don’t,” Korda acknowledged. “If you happen to occur to instructed me I really feel three, 4 months prior to now after I used to be throughout the ER that I could be proper right here I’d being terribly utterly happy.”

Korda can be the defending champion subsequent week throughout the KPGA Women’s PGA at Congressional.

Lydia Ko was fourth at 17 under after a 68.

Lexi Thompson, the 2015 winner, closed with a 70 to tie for fifth at 16 under with Jessica Korda (67), Nelly’s older sister, and Carlota Ciganda (67) and Atthaya Thitikul (68).

“In actual fact, it isn’t the outcome that I wanted, nonetheless I felt strong your complete week and carried out good golf, and nothing nonetheless positives to take right into a severe subsequent week,” Thompson acknowledged.

Brooke Henderson, the ShopRite LPGA Primary winner ultimate week in New Jersey and the 2017 and 2019 champion at Blythefield, had a 72 to finish at 15 under.

Minjee Lee, the U.S. Women’s Open winner, was 11 under after a 74.