So far, 2021 has been the year of the Korda sisters on the LPGA. After Jessica Korda, the older of the two LPGA players, won the season-opening Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions last month, little sister Nelly followed on Sunday with a three-shot victory at the Gainbridge LPGA played at Lake Nona in Orlando, Florida.
Korda finished at 16 under after a final-round 3-under 69.
This is Nelly Korda’s fourth career LPGA title, but the first time she’s won on home soil after picking up previous wins at the 2018 Swinging Skirts LPGA Taiwan Championship plus winning the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open in 2019 and defending her title at the Taiwan Swinging Skirts event that year.
Korda took a one-shot lead on rookie Patty Tavatanakit into the final round at Lake Nona, but Korda started pulling away quickly. Birdies on Nos. 2, 5 and 6 moved Korda to 16 under for the week and that’s where she sat for the remainder of the day.
First win on U.S. soil
Nelly Korda is the Gainbridge LPGA Champion!
pic.twitter.com/BTkClyfVDl
— LPGA (@LPGA) February 28, 2021
Tavatanakit couldn’t get anything going, and slid down the leaderboard with her final-round 74. She finished an eventual T-5 at 10 under.
Korda’s closest pursuers were Lexi Thompson, who had a closing 4-under 68 for one of the best rounds of the day, and Lydia Ko, who is playing on her home course this week. Both players ended 72 holes at 13 under, three shots behind Korda.
Jin Young Ko, the No. 1-ranked player in the world finished solo fourth at 11 under.
Annika Sorenstam, at 13 over, finished 74th, last among those to make the cut.
from Golfweek https://ift.tt/3q6gtCK