Tired Ko Jin-young defeats Minjee Lee in play-off to win LPGA’s Founders Cup

NEW YORK – Ko Jin-young won the Founders Cup for a third time on Sunday, clinching a play-off victory over Australia’s Minjee Lee in Clifton, New Jersey.

The South Korean, who triumphed on different courses in 2021 and 2019, claimed the title with a par on the first play-off hole after defending champion Lee three-putted for bogey.

“I heard the roar when Jin-young birdied 18, so I knew I was probably going to be tied if I didn’t birdie the last hole,” said Lee, who had a two-stroke lead with three holes to go.

“I chipped it really well and it just missed, but I still think I played really solid today and throughout the whole week.”

Ko shot a bogey-free final round 67 which featured five birdies, including a long putt at the par-four 18th, to tie Lee (71) at 13-under 275.

Lee went into Sunday’s round at the Upper Montclair Country Club with a three-stroke lead but suffered a setback with a double bogey on the par-three sixth, where she found the water.

She then bogeyed the par-four 16th, allowing Ko to come into contention. The 27-year-old Korean was able to force the play-off when she birdied the last hole.

It was the fourth straight LPGA tournament that has been decided by a play-off and Ko said she did not overcomplicate her approach to the final round.

“I didn’t have, like, a game plan. I just feel tired the last three days, so I really want to focus on my game,” she said.

The high winds made low scoring difficult but she said it had forced her to focus and keep her mind off the leaderboard.

“I played really, really good. It was so windy, was too windy out there, so I thought if I (can) play really well, I could have a chance to win,” she added.

“So I really focused on myself and focused shot by shot on every hole and didn’t look at the scoreboard. I didn’t think about the other players.”

With the win, world No. 3 Ko moved to from fifth to first in the Race to the CME Globe.

Now in her sixth season on the LPGA Tour, she has 15 titles, including two Major championships.

South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai shot a final-round 70 to finish in sole possession of third place at 10-under 278.

South Korea’s Hae Ran-ryu (73) was fourth at eight under.

Thai Atthaya Thitikul (71), India’s Aditi Ashok (73) and American Angel Yin (74) tied for fifth at seven under.

AFP, REUTERS