GALLOWAY, N.J. — Jennifer Kupcho closed with an 8-foot birdie putt in mild rain to carry off Ilhee Lee on Sunday within the ShopRite LPGA Traditional, ending a drought of practically three years with out successful.
Kupcho, whose 4 LPGA Tour titles embrace a significant on the Chevron Championship, birdied three of the final 5 holes for a 5-under 66. She took the lead with a 20-foot birdie putt from simply off the inexperienced on the 14th and prevented a playoff with the putt on 18.
Lee was the 36-hole chief going into the ultimate spherical on a rain-soaked Bay Course at Seaview Lodge, so drenched that the par-3 seventeenth was moved as much as play solely 76 yards. She had two early bogeys and shot 39 on the entrance to fall again.
However the South Korean completed sturdy, with 5 birdies on the again, together with the final two holes, for a 68. It wasn’t sufficient to catch Kupcho, who was in her personal world.
Kupcho completed at 15-under 198 in one in every of solely two LPGA occasions contested over 54 holes.
“I actually simply wasn’t desirous about anything,” Kupcho stated. “I feel in my thoughts I had set on 14 beneath, so I used to be actually simply attempting to get to that quantity. Clearly did somewhat higher. Yeah, simply feels very nice. Simply form of stayed in my zone the entire time.”
The 36-year-old Lee gained her solely LPGA title 12 years in the past within the Bahamas on a course shortened to 12 holes due to historic rain. However she had performed solely 18 occasions within the final seven years, ending off her school diploma and dealing briefly for Monetary Discussion board. Recently, she has been a part-time golf instructor.
Lee received into the sphere as a previous match winner, at No. 1,426 within the girls’s world rating.
“I labored for Monetary Discussion board for 100 days after which received out,” Lee stated. “Then I notice, ‘Oh, I am good at golf.’ So I received to show golf. I began instructing somewhat bit, not full time, however I used to be instructing somewhat bit and I beloved it. I completely beloved it.
“So since then I used to be instructing somewhat bit and enjoying on the similar time and rehabbing, extra remedy on my shoulder and again and ankle. I nonetheless have few college students ready for me in LA so I get to see them subsequent week.”
Kupcho will get a much-needed win after going and not using a trophy after her three-win 2022 season.
“It simply feels superb,” Kupcho stated. “I feel I struggled lots early within the yr and had lots of robust weeks, lots of onerous conversations, and it feels good.”
She stated she carried some momentum from final week within the U.S. Girls’s Open, although she missed the cup.
“Me and the U.S. Open generally simply do not get alongside. I feel I simply carried my ball hanging into this week,” Kupcho stated. “Hit the ball very well final week, hit it effectively this week, and simply sunk some putts.”
