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The LPGA Tour heads to Clifton, New Jersey for the Cognizant Founders Cup from May 12-15. This 72-hole event is in its 10th year and is played at the Upper Montclair Country Club, which is a par 71 layout of 6,656 yards. Jin Young Ko, who won the event in 2019, successfully defended her title last season after posting a score of 18-under par at the Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell, New Jersey. The purse is $3 million with 500 points towards the Race to the CME Globe for the winner.

First Round

Scoring was excellent the first round with Madelene Sagstrom scorching the course from the first hole. She recorded four straight birdies to begin her round and finished with a 9-under par 63. She was one shot clear of Megan Khang and to ahead of Nasa Hataoka, who recorded an eagle and five birdies. Bianca Pagdangana, Giulia Molinaro, and Amy Yang were lurking at 6-under par. Lexi Thompson posted a 30 on her final nine and was in at five-under par, along with Minjee Lee. Among a group of eight at four-under par were Sei Young Kim and Sophia Popov. Defending champion Jin Young Ko was in a 15-player group at 3-under, along with notables Leona Maguire and Lydia Ko. Jennifer Kupcho and 16-year-old amateur Anna Davis were among 11 at two-under par. Other notables further back were Anna Nordqvist and AtthayaThitikul at 1-under, Yealimi Noh (even), Yuka Saso and Celine Boutier (one-over), In Gee Chun and Marina Alex (two-over), and Laura Davies (10-over).

Second Round

Minjee Lee vaulted to the lead after a round of 63 that included eight birdies and an eagle. At 14-under par, she held a three-shot lead over Ally Ewing, Lexi Thompson and Madelene Sagstrom. Sanna Nuutinen of Finland posted a 68 and was in sole possession of fifth at nine-under. Paula Reto fired a 67 and led a group at eight-under that included Carlota Ciganda and Megan Khang. Angel Yin also shot a 67 and was in a group of four seven shots off the pace. Lauren Stephenson climbed up the leaderboard after a 66 put her at six-under, along with Nasa Hataoka, who posted a 73. A logjam of ten players at five-under par included Jenny Shin, who shot a 64. Joining her was In Gee Chun, who shot a 65 that included an eagle on the par 4 fourth, and Jin Young Ko. Amy Yang fell way back after a 74 put her at four-under along with Anna Davis and Jennifer Kupcho. Yuka Saso shot a 68 and comfortably made the cut at three-under. Notables on the cut line included Lydia Ko, Matilda Castren, and Sei Young Kim. Those that failed to make the weekend were Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Stacy Lewis, Yealimi Noh, Leona Maguire, Marina Alex, Lizette Salas, and Laura Davies.

Third Round

Only 11 players broke 70 on a cool, wet Saturday. The round of the day was shot by Madelene Sagstrom, who birdied three of the first four holes. She went bogey free for the day, posting a 67. At 16-under par, Sagstrom was one shot behind leader Minjee Lee, who shot a round of 69. Lexi Thompson was just two shots off the pace after a 69, while Angel Yin’s round of 68 put her in fourth place at 11-under par. Ally Ewing fell off the pace after a 74 left her tied with Paula Reto and Megan Khang at nine-under par. Jennifer Kupcho posted a 68 and was in a group of four at eight-under par. Jennh Shin and Hye-Jin Choi each shot 70 and paced a group of eight players at seven-under par. Big names at five-under par include Jin Young Ko, Yuka Saso, and Anna Nordqvist. Anna Davis was at four-under, along with the likes of Lydia Ko, AtthayaThitikul, and Xiyu Lin. Other notables include Celine Boutier and two-under par, and Sei Young Kim at two-over par after five bogeys and a round of 75.

Final Round

Scoring improved in the final round with 21 players shooting under 70. The round of the day was fired by AtthayaThitikul, who flirted with the possibility of a 59 with five holes to play. With three pars, a bogey, and birdie the rest of the way, Thitikul finished with a 63 and tie for 8th with Hye-Jin Choi at 13-under par. Carlota Ciganda made a charge up the leaderboard with a 64 that left her at 15-under par and sole possession of 5th. Angel Yin posted a 67 and Lexi Thompson a 69, but they fell three and four shots shy of Minjee Lee, who recorded three birdies on the back nine for a 19-under par total and her 7th LPGA Tour victory. Madelene Sagstrom posted a relatively lackluster 72 and was 4th at 15-under par. Nasa Hataoka and Megan Khang finished at 14-under par, and Jenny Shin rounded out the top ten with a 12-under par finish. Lydia Ko and Yuka Saso led a group of five at nine-under. Jin Young Ko and Jennifer Kupcho were among those at eight-under. Other notables included Amy Yang (66 and six-under), Celine Boutier (five-under), and amateur Anna Davis (three-under).

Coming Up

The LPGA Tour heads to Shadow Creek in Las Vegas, Nevada for the Bank of Hope LPGA Match Play. The event, in its second-year features 64 players battling it out over five days from May 25 through 29 on a par 72 layout of 6804 yards. Ally Ewing won the inaugural event with a 2-and-1 victory of Sophia Popov for her second LPGA Tour title. The purse is $1.5 million with 500 points towards the Race to the CME Globe for the winner.