Kupcho outduels Maguire, Korda in playoff to win LPGA Meijer Classic

After missing a two-foot eagle putt on the first hole of a playoff, Jennifer Kupcho won the LPGA Meijer Classic on Sunday when Leona Maguire’s three-foot birdie try lipped out on the second extra hole.

Kupcho finished with a 1-under par 71 to match playing partner Nelly Corda and Maguire at 18 under 270 at Blythefield Country Club. Kupcho birdied both playoff greens.

Kupcho said, “It is really special.” said. “I was really close, but this leaderboard wasn’t stacked. I think that’s the thing I’m most proud about, and that’s the players that were there with me. It was a close battle all the way to the end and I’m proud.

Maguire finished with 65 and birdied the extra hole before missing a short putt on second.

Kupcho: “I thought she was going make it,” said. “When she hit it by her hole and I had to putt from the fringe, I thought to myself, that’s no gimme. I was just shaking and missed essentially the same-length putt.”

After taking a one-stroke advantage over Kupcho in the final round, Korda, last year’s winner, shot 72. Korda was eliminated from the playoff after a three-putt on the par-5 18th.

Maguire found new life after Kupcho’s 2-footer slid past Maguire’s left side.

Kupcho: “I missed the putt.” said. “I nearly missed the putt in regulation. The same putt. This requires nerves and shaking.

Kupcho won her second LPGA Tour title, following her major win at Mission Hills in California’s desert in April. The inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur was won by Kupcho, a former Wake Forest star and Colorado native, in 2019.

Kupcho started slowly with a double-bogey on her par-4 third hole and a par-4 sixth hole bogey. Kupcho rebounded with a par-5 8th par-5 birdie and an eagle 8th par-5. She birdied the Par-4 12th, par-5 14th, and bogeyed on the Par-4 16th.

Maguire won the LPGA Drive On Championship held at Crown Colony in February to become the first Irish winner of the LPGA Tour.

Second-ranked Korda returned to the sport after a four-month absence due to a bloodclot in her left leg. This was her second start. She finished eighth in the U.S. Women’s Open two weeks ago, her first event since February.

Korda: “Unfortunately, sometimes it’s not possible to have it all the time,” said. “If you told my that three, four months back, I was in an ER, I would be here, I would be very happy.”

Korda is also the defending champion in the KPGA Women’s PGA at Congressional.

Henderson is crowned top Canadian

Lydia Ko was fourth at 17 years old after a score of 68.

Lexi Thompson, 2015 winner, tied for fifth at 16 under with Jessica Korda 67, Nelly’s older sibling, Carlota Ciganda 67, and Atthaya Thtikul 68.

Brooke Henderson of Canada, the ShopRite LPGA Classic Winner in New Jersey last week and 2017 and 2019 champions at Blythefield, had 72 to finish at 15-under and tie for ninth. Maude-Aimee Leblanc, Que., tied for 40th at 8. under, while Alena sharp, Hamilton, Ont., tied for 56th.

Kupcho: “I think this one’s even better than the original, personally.” said.” I had a huge lead going into Chevron’s final round. It was so exciting to be there with top-ranked players. It was very close. The leaderboard was packed within strokes so it was very close. I am very proud of how I came out of it.