CLIFTON, New Jersey – Madelene Sagstrom and Rose Zhang left Nelly Korda and everyone else behind on Saturday at the Cognizant Founders Cup.
Trying to win a record sixth consecutive LPGA Tour event, Korda was 11 strokes behind Sagstrom and 10 behind two-time NCAA champion Zhang with one round remaining at Upper Montclair Country Club.
After months of near-perfect play, Korda inexplicably hit bad drives, found fairway bunkers and missed short putts. She shot a 1-over 73.
Sagstrom, who has played well on this course the past three years, had a 66 to get to 19-under 197. Zhang, who won in his pro debut in the state of New Jersey a year ago, had a 67 after missing a short. birdie putt on No. 18.
Unless something unexpected happens, one of them will win their second LPGA Tour title. Sagstrom, 31, has not won since 2020. The Swede had a bogey-free six-birdie round, highlighted by three in a row on the last three holes of the front nine.
Zhang, 20, who won the Mizuho Americas Open in Jersey City last year, made seven birdies and two bogeys.
Korda was tied for third place at 8 under with Sei Young Kim of South Korea and Gabriela Ruffels of Australia, who shot 67 each.
Nelly Korda ‘poor in every way’, her chances of six straight games almost crushed
Korda is now 11 shots behind leader Madelene Sagstrom in the Cognizant Founders Cup.
Korda, 25, made three birdies and four bogeys, the first on the opening hole after finding a bunker on the fairway.
The LPGA Tour record for largest deficit overcome by winning a tournament is 10 strokes. He has been done three times with Mickey Wright (1964). Annika Sorenstam (2001) and Louise Friberg (2008).
Korda came into the tournament having taken two weeks off after winning the Chevron Championship. It was her fifth consecutive title and tied her with Hall of Famers Sorenstam (2004-05) and Nancy Lopez (1978) for the circuit’s longest winning streak.