Blake Davis
JERSEY CITY, NJ (AP) — Nelly Korda won a back nine clash with Hannah Green of Australia with a par on the 18th hole to capture the Mizuho Americas Open by one shot on Sunday for her sixth victory in seven starts on the LPGA Tour this year .
The win made the 25-year-old American the first player since Inbee Park (2013) to record six wins in a single season.
“Oh, my God, six,” Korda said. “I can’t even compose myself right now with this, the face-off that Hannah and I have had practically all day. It wasn’t my best thing today, but I fought really hard the last nine.”
“It was incredible sharing the stage with Hannah.”
Korda also bounced back after seeing her record five-game tournament winning streak snapped last week by Rose Zhang at the Cognizant Founders Cup. Zhang withdrew on Thursday after three holes due to an intestinal problem.
After playing the front nine in 2-over, Korda matched birdies with Green on the 10th, 13th and 15th holes at scenic Liberty National to move into a tie with Green, whose two wins this year make her the only other multiple winner on this year’s tour.
Korda, the third-round leader by two shots, shot a final-round 71 and finished at 14-under 274. Green shot 70 and finished at 275.
After Korda put his drive in the fairway on the par-4 No. 18, Green pulled his drive to the rough left. His second to the green was short and left and still in a difficult situation. After Korda hit his approach 15 feet from the hole, Green’s chip over a bunker landed 10 feet in front of the hole and then rolled back a bit.
Korda made one putt and finished, while Green’s putt to extend the tournament into a playoff never touched the hole.
Korda then raised his hands and accepted the crowd’s applause at this event held with views of the New York City skyline and the Statue of Liberty in the background.
Jennifer Kupcho, who lost this playoff event with Zhang last year, finished tied for third with newcomer Gabriela Ruffels of Australia and Ariya Jutanugarn and Chanettee Wannasaen, both of Thailand.
Playing hours before the leaders departed, Wannasaen shot the best round of the day with a 7-under 65. Jutanugarn shot a 70, Kupcho shot a 71 and Ruffels shot a 72 to finish third for the second week in a row.
After being tied for the lead by Ayaka Furue of Japan and Kupcho with nine holes to play, Korda and Green turned the tournament into a two-way race with their matching birdies to open a four-stroke lead over the rest of the field. When one got close, the other followed.
Furue finished in a large group at 9 under.
The victory was Korda’s 14th and she joined a list of players who have won six times in a year since 1980: Betsy King (1989), Annika Sorenstam (1997, 2003), Karrie Webb (1999, 2000), Lorena Ochoa (2006, 2008), Park, Beth Daniel (1990) and Yani Tseng (2011).
Korda earned $450,000, bringing his career earnings to $11,880,981 and his season earnings to $2,943,708.
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