CLIFTON, NJ. The storyline coming into the Cognizant Founders Cup event was the remarkable five consecutive wins by Nelly Korda. The world-ranked number one player was seeking to set a record with a sixth straight triumph.
After two rounds of play Korda was within striking distance – just four shots behind co-leaders Rose Zhang and Madelene Sagström.
That storyline came to an end during Saturday’s rain plagued third round when Korda could only manage a 73 while Zhang and Sagstrom pulled away from the field on rounds of 67 and 66 respectively.
The brilliant play by Zhang and Sagström continued with their pairing during the final round as the two out-paced all others in the field.
Sagström held the early advantage and the Swede appeared set to claim her second win on the LPGA circuit.
But the remarkable poise and dogged focus from Zhang was about to add another chapter to her rocket-booster ascendancy.
After a stellar collegiate career at Stanford, she earned her first win in her maiden debut on the LPGA circuit with a playoff win coming last year at the Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty National Golf Club in nearby Jersey City. Zhang became the first golfer to do that since Beverly Hanson in 1951.
Expectations on any gifted player can be a difficult road to navigate. Yet the bloom for this Rose went full bore ahead with four birdies during the final five-hole stretch at UMCC in claiming her second LPGA triumph.
Zhang seized her first lead in the final round when Sagström bogied the 16th, the most difficult hole during the event.
The concluding two birdies by Zhang produced a final round 66, the low round of the day, a 264 total for 72 holes and a two-shot winning margin. Her 264 set a new tournament 72-hole scoring record at Upper Montclair Country Club.
Zhang’s statistics for the week proved just how good her game was throughout the event. She ranked first in most birdies (27), most green hit in regulation (61/72) and least number of putts (109) amongst the field. Her four rounds were in the 60s for the first time since becoming an LPGA Tour member.
The 20-year-old turns 21 on May 24 with the brightest of futures ahead and undoubtedly more roses to bloom – no pun intended.
How prophetic Zhang’s early professional success has come in of all places – the Garden State.
Thisa and Thata
* Cognizant, the Teaneck, NJ-based company, completed its third and final year of sponsorship. Determinations will likely be made in short order on whether the company plans to continue in that role.
Cognizant did take on sponsorship of the PGA TOUR event at PGA National earlier this year when Honda backed out. The issue now for Cognizant is dealing with the optics and fallout should it withdraw from sponsorship on the women’s side but remains on the men’s side.
* Whether Upper Montclair CC will continue in the host role is also a key question mark? The club has long been active in serving as the venue for professional golf events stretching back to the 1960s. One of the key factors is whether calendar dates can be aligned that fit the club’s needs. The likely timing for the event looks to remain in a May time period.
* Attendance for the event was impacted significantly by ongoing rain showers that plagued the event during Friday’s second round and Sunday’s final round. The alignment with Mother’s Day for a second consecutive year also impacted the event.
* On hand for the possible sixth consecutive win by Korda was one of the now three holders of that accomplishment – Nancy Lopez. The World Golf Hall-of-Famer was once again on the grounds of UMCC. One of her most enduring triumphs came in 1979 when winning in a five-way playoff that included the acclaimed greatest women’s player of all-time — Mickey Wright.
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* The bigger issue concerning women’s golf is the lack of exposure from events played in the New York / New Jersey metro area. Overall media participation was limited and local television coverage was practically non-existent. Additionally, the PGA Tour opted not to have its own events in the metro area given the clutter of other pro sports in the region.
* Nelly Korda on how the streak has meant to her: “Yeah, gosh, haven’t even sunk in. Probably maybe now or maybe in like 10, 15 years it’ll sink in. Hopefully someone beats it one day. But just to do that with all the competition out here is super, super rewarding with how much work that I’ve put in. So, I think to get a streak like that in any sport in general is amazing with the amount of talent that I feel like every athlete has in their sport.
