BRADENTON, Fla. — Yealimi Noh turned a one-shot deficit right into a three-shot lead over Jin Younger Ko within the span of two holes on the again 9 on Sunday and cruised from there to her first LPGA victory within the Founders Cup.
The 23-year-old from Northern California closed with a bogey-free, 3-under 68 for a four-day complete of 21-under 263 at Bradenton Nation Membership, 4 photographs higher than Ko (71). Noh made her final bogey of the week on her closing gap of Friday’s second spherical, then surged into the lead Saturday with a 63.
Noh was making her 111th profession begin, the primary of her sixth season on tour.
“I all the time knew it could occur and it was a matter of time. I used to be like, when and why is not it coming? A whole lot of my friends and like ladies round my age and simply coming in on the identical time getting their wins, I all the time was like, I do know I can do it, however when is it coming?” she mentioned.
“To essentially get it accomplished, and particularly within the first match of the yr, is very nice.”
She made 10 straight pars, permitting Ko to edge in entrance, however holed birdie putts of about 15 ft on the par-4 thirteenth gap and 12 ft on the par-4 14th whereas Ko made bogey on every — her first bogeys of the week.
Noh switched to the broomstick putter final yr, a transfer she credited together with her elevated self-belief.
“I used to be actually scuffling with my placing in 2023. Switching to the broomstick gave me again my confidence, obtained my photographs again, simply boosted my confidence,” she mentioned.
Ko, a 15-time winner together with two majors, was extra upset about ending her bogey-free streak of 95 holes than ending second. The run dated to Saturday’s spherical on the season-opening Hilton Grand Holidays Match of Champions.
“I had bogey immediately. I imply, I do not care about successful,” Ko mentioned. “I simply wish to proceed bogey-free spherical till possibly Thailand or Singapore. I did my greatest I believe and I had nice week.”
Megan Khang (68) was one other shot again. Miyu Yamashita, Hannah Inexperienced and Jin Hee Im tied for fourth at 13 underneath.
Prime-ranked Nelly Korda, who received a unique match on this course final yr to kick off a seven-win season, closed with a 71 and completed 9 photographs again.
Noh was constant sufficient to get a captain’s decide for the Solheim Cup in 2021, then had a few down years earlier than making 21 cuts in 25 begins in 2024.
“Simply having a variety of higher outcomes and getting my confidence again and contending a couple of instances final season actually helped me carry that out via the winter and simply actually put together for this week,” she mentioned. “Simply felt actually prepared — this was going to be my yr and week.”
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