LPGA TOUR
Rose Zhang Wins Cognizant Founders Cup. Aussie Ruffels Third
America’s Rose Zhang earned her second LPGA Tour title at the Cognizant Founders Cup. The 20-year-old sensation produced a flawless 6-under 66 on Sunday to outlast Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom. Australia’s Gabriela Ruffels finished in third place. World No. 1 Nelly Korda ended her incredible run of five consecutive wins finishing in a tie for 7th place at 7-under.
Zhang marked her first event as a professional by winning the 2023 Mizuho Americas Open in a playoff to become the first player to win at her professional debut on the LPGA Tour since Beverly Hanson in 1951.
Zhang started the final round one shot behind Sagstrom. The Californian posted back-to back birdies at the 4th and 5th holes to go out in 2-under 34 shots on the front nine. Zhang trailed Sagstrom by three shots after 13 holes before coming home with a stunning stretch of birdies at the 14th, 15th, 17th and 18th holes for a two-shot victory. Zhang carded rounds of 63, 68, 67 and 66 to reach 24-under at Upper Montclair Country Club in New Jersey.
Sagstrom, aged 24, was searching for her second LPGA Tour title after winning the Bainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio in 2020. The three-time Solheim Cup representative signed for a 3-under 69 final round to get to 22-under for outright second place.
Ruffels, who grew up playing her golf in Melbourne at Victoria Golf Club, produced a 1-under 71 on Sunday to get to 9-under and solo third place. It was Ruffels second third place finish on the LPGA Tour this season. The 2019 US Women’s Amateur champion is enjoying her rookie LPGA Tour year after finishing first on the Epson Tour’s offical money list in 2023.
The LPGA Tour remains in New Jersey for next week’s Mizuho Americas Open to be staged at Liberty National Golf Club. Rose Zhang is the defending champion.
Final Scores
1. Rose Zhang -24
2. Madelene Sagstrom -22
3. Gabriela Ruffels -9
T4. Ruoning Yin -8
T4. Peiyun Chien -8
T4. Xiya Lin -8
Other Australians
T7. Minjee Lee -7
T18. Hannah Green -5
T18. Stephanie Kyriacou -5
T35. Sarah Kemp -2
T46. Grace Kim -1
MC. Robyn Choi
MC. Karis Davidson
MC. Hira Naveed
Image credit: Mike Stobe/Getty Images
