Four-time LPGA Tour winner Jennifer Kupcho ended a run of three years without a win with a narrow one shot at a rain-soaked ShopRite LPGA Classic.
The American, who began the final round on the Bay Course at Seaview Hotel a shot behind overnight leader Il-Hee Lee, gained momentum during the early stages thanks to birdies in three of the first five holes as the South Korean stumbled with three costly early bogeys. Kupcho also went on to finish strong as she birdied three of the last five holes, including an 8-foot birdie putt at the 18th to card a 5-under 66 and conclude on 15 under.
Lee put up a good fight on the back nine, with a series of five birdies to finish with a final-round 68, however, it was not enough to overhaul the American who birdied the last to seal a first victory on the LPGA Tour since the 2022 Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational.
“I really just wasn’t thinking about anything else,” the 28-year-old said afterwards. “I think in my mind I had set on 14 under, so I was really just trying to get to that number. Obviously did a little better. Yeah, just feels really nice. Just kind of stayed in my zone the whole time.
“I think I struggled a lot early in the year and had a lot of tough weeks, a lot of hard conversations, and it feels good.
“I played well last week. I think me and the U.S. Open sometimes just don’t get along.
“I think I just carried my ball-striking into this week. I hit it well this week and just sunk some putts.”
Kupcho’s victory came all whilst met with less than ideal course conditions in the heavy New Jersey rain. The par-3 17th hole was so heavily affected that they played only 76 yards – the shortest hole on tour this season. South Korea’s Sei Young Kim aced that very same hole to fire through the best round on Sunday with a 65 to complete the top three on 12 under.
“So I took a 56, my wedge, and I try to hit,” said Kim. “It is a little bit downwind so I try to pitch it to the front edge. I hit the right number and I saw the bounce, one, and in.
“I was like, wow. My skin everywhere was goosebumps.”
What is the next event?
The next event on the LPGA Tour schedule is the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give taking place between 12-15 June at Belmont, Michigan in the U.S.