Sports

Nelly Korda Rallies To Win 3rd Straight LPGA Tour Start At Ford Championship

Published

2 months ago

2024-04-01

Gilbert, Arizona – Nelly Korda won her hometown event in a playoff, closing with an eagle-birdie. She overcame terrible winds in Southern California to win another playoff last week.

The world number one made it three in a row by staying steady on a wet Sunday in the desert.

Korda became the first LPGA Tour player in eight years to win three consecutive events, playing a 7-under 65 to win by two strokes in the Ford Championship.

Nelly Korda Rallies To Win 3rd Straight LPGA Tour Start At Ford Championship

“It’s very hard mentally to be 100%, especially after a win, especially when playing in tough conditions,” Korda stated in a press conference. “As dull as it sounds, I was just taking shots and seeing where I’d wind up. “Getting three in a row is like a dream come true.”

Korda won the Drive On Championship in late January in her hometown of Bradenton, Florida, before missing the whole LPGA Tour’s Asian swing. She remained sharp following a seven-week sabbatical, winning the Fir Hill Seri Pak Championship in a playoff near Los Angeles last week to reclaim the world number one spot.

Korda was consistent over four days in the desert, entering the final round two strokes down at Seville Golf and Country Club despite increasingly bad weather.

Korda nearly holed her second shot on the short par-4 16th to take the lead, then birdied 18 to finish at 20-under 268 for her 11th LPGA victory. She became the first LPGA Tour player to win three consecutive events since Ariya Jutanugarn in 2016 and the first American to do so since Nancy Lopez in 1978.

“(It) just feels like a blur,” Korda explained. “Taking it day by day, really trying to stay very present and just played really good golf, solid golf in tough conditions today, which I’m very happy about.”

Australian rookie Hira Naveed could tie Korda after striking her second shot just right of the par-5 18th, but an unsatisfactory chip resulted in a par. In her second career start, the former Pepperdine golfer shot 66 and finished second at 18 under par.

Lexi Thompson temporarily shared the lead and was within a shot of victory after 15 holes in her hunt for her first win since 2019. She struck the driver on the 16th and sent it straight into the water, resulting in a bogey.

Thompson also missed a short par putt on No. 17 before finishing with a two-putt birdie on No. 18 to shoot 68. She finished in a five-way tie for fourth place at 17 under.

Nelly Korda Rallies To Win 3rd Straight LPGA Tour Start At Ford Championship

“It was crazy conditions, but it was almost just like it gets to where it’s mental when it comes to these kind of conditions,” said Thompson. “You simply have to stay positive and understand that pars are a fantastic score. If you have a good number, take advantage of it; try to shoot for the pin and hit some birdies.”

Temperatures dropped considerably, and rain fell steadily during the final round, adding a layer of hardship to a competition that began with two days of record-breaking scores.

The inclement weather did nothing to impede the leaders, with four players tied for the lead and 11 within two shots early on the back nine.

In order to finish at 3-under 33, Korda started her final round with two consecutive birdies on No. 4, then added another on the par-4 ninth. She tied for the lead with a birdie on the par-5 12th and won outright at 18 under with a 6-foot birdie putt on the 13th.

Thompson and Haveed tied her, but Korda rallied with a near-hole out on 16, setting her a birdie to take a one-shot lead. Korda fired a tremendous drive on No. 18 and chipped to three feet for the final birdie.

“Just tried to stay really aggressive and I knew I had to shoot a low one to be in contention,” Korda told reporters. “Just played really smart golf out there today.”

Nelly Korda Rallies To Win 3rd Straight LPGA Tour Start At Ford Championship

Naveed reached the record-low cut of 5 under par and stormed up the leaderboard with a third-round 65 before the wind came up. She moved into a tie for the lead at 18 under with a birdie on the island par-3 17th, but her chip on 18 fell around 20 feet short, and she missed the putt.

“It’s just breathing a sigh of relief, really, and just saying, ‘All right, put your head down; there are scoring opportunities out there,'” Naveed explained. “Just go out there and do your best, commit to each shot, and try to hole some putts.” So excited to do it over the weekend.”

So is Korda, who has positioned herself to win her fourth consecutive T-Mobile Match Play next week in Las Vegas.

SOURCE – (AP)

Related Topics:Ford Championship LPGA Nelly Korda

Up Next

Former Dolphins, Colts Player Vontae Davis Found Dead In His South Florida Home At Age 35

Don't Miss

Another Byron Win Has Hendrick On A Roll Heading Toward NASCAR Team’s 40th Anniversary Party

Kiara Grace

Kiara Grace is a staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. Her writing focuses on technology trends, particularly in the realm of consumer electronics and software. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics, Kiara delivers insightful analyses that resonate with tech enthusiasts and casual readers alike. Her articles strike a balance between in-depth coverage and accessibility, making them a go-to resource for anyone seeking to stay informed about the latest innovations shaping our digital world.

Election News

Max Verstappen Holds Off Lando Norris To Win Emilia Romagna Grand Prix And Extend F1 Lead

Published

1 day ago

2024-05-19

Kiara Grace

AP News - VOR News Image

IMOLA, ITALY Max – Verstappen defeated McLaren’s Lando Norris to win the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Sunday, extending his Formula One championship lead.

Verstappen began on pole and led Norris from the start but was pushed by the McLaren driver near the end, winning by less than a second.

“I lost grip, especially in the closing 10 to 15 laps. I slid a lot. “I saw Lando closing in,” Verstappen explained. “It’s quite difficult when the tires are no longer working, and you have to run flat out, so I couldn’t afford to make too many mistakes. Thankfully, we didn’t, and we’re overjoyed to have won here today.”

AP – VOR News Image

Max Verstappen Holds Off Lando Norris To Win Emilia Romagna Grand Prix And Extend F1 Lead

It was the defending champion’s fifth victory in seven Grand Prix races this year, following Verstappen’s defeat by Norris in Miami two weeks ago.

Norris’ Second Place Sunday demonstrated the McLaren team’s credentials as the closest contender to Verstappen and Red Bull this season. “It hurts me to say it, but one or two more laps, I think I would have had him,” stated Norris. “It would have been beautiful, but just not today.”

Charles Leclerc finished third for Ferrari, the Italian team’s first podium finish in Imola since 2006.

Overtaking is always challenging on the narrow Imola track, and this year, asphalt run-off zones on key corners were replaced with gravel traps, discouraging risk-taking even more.

AP – VOR News Image

Max Verstappen Holds Off Lando Norris To Win Emilia Romagna Grand Prix And Extend F1 Lead

Leclerc got in on Norris midway through the race but made a mistake and ran across the grass, costing him time.

Oscar Piastri qualified second for McLaren but was relegated to fifth after a penalty for impeding Kevin Magnussen in a Haas. He got ahead of Sainz during the pit stops and finished fourth, ahead of the Spanish driver.

Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time champion, and his teammate George Russell finished sixth and seventh following a challenging weekend for Mercedes.

Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, began 11th following a mistake in qualifying and finished ninth. His major impact on the race came when he briefly held up Norris and Leclerc following their pit stops, thereby assisting Verstappen.

AP – VOR News Image

Max Verstappen Holds Off Lando Norris To Win Emilia Romagna Grand Prix And Extend F1 Lead

Yuki Tsunoda took ninth place for RB, while Lance Stroll finished tenth for Aston Martin.

Verstappen has a 48-point advantage over Leclerc, who has surged ahead of Perez to second place.

SOURCE – (AP)

Sports

Seize The Gray Win the Preakness 2024, Mystik Dan Finished Second

Published

2 days ago

2024-05-18

Geoff Thomas

Seize The Gray has won the Preakness 2024. Favorite and Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan finished second, halting his pursuit for the first Triple Crown since Justify in 2018, NBC Sports Reports.

Seize the Grey won the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, on Saturday, defeating Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan and six other horses. Seize the Grey led from start to finish, with Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan in second place. Catching Freedom placed third.

D. Wayne Lukas, 88, becomes the oldest trainer in history to win a Triple Crown event. It marks his eighth Preakness victory in his career, tying Bob Baffert for second all-time. Lukas has won 15 Triple Crown races in his career.

Jaime Torres made a memorable Triple Crown debut with his triumph in Seize the Grey.

MyRacehorse owns Seize the Grey, and it sells thoroughbred “micro-shares” to the general public. There are 2,570 shareholders in Seize the Grey, representing 42 of the 50 states.

Seize the Grey is the Preakness’ 18th victory from the seventh post since 1909. No other post has resulted in more than 14 winners.

If Seize the Grey competes, his next race will be the 156th Belmont Stakes on June 8 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Preakness 2024 Full Race

Sports

Dallas Stars Eliminate Avalanche 2-1 With Double Overtime Win

Published

2 days ago

2024-05-18

Geoff Thomas

Dallas Stars Eliminate Avalanche 2-1 With OT Win

The Avalanche’s aspirations of returning to the Stanley Cup were dashed late Friday night when they lost 2-1 in double overtime against the Dallas Stars.

Former Avalanche player Matt Duchene scored the game-winning goal, allowing the Dallas Stars to advance to the Western Conference final.

Duchene, who began his professional career in Denver, grabbed a loose puck in front of the net and blasted it over a sprawled-out Alexandar Georgiev. Duchene raced down the ice and sank to his knees in celebration.

Dallas Stars will play either Edmonton Oilers or the Vancouver Cunucks next. The Dallas Stars are making their second straight trip to the conference finals, having fallen to eventual Stanley Cup champion Vegas last season. The Stars won their sole Stanley Cup championship in 1999.

This was a series in which the road team won five of six games, with the Stars winning all three in Denver. The Avalanche were the best home team throughout the regular season, while the Stars had the best away record.

After winning the Stanley Cup two years earlier, the Avalanche finished the season 50-25-7.