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The LPGA Tour teed it up at the Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell, New Jersey for the Cognizant Founders Cup. In 2019, Jin Young Ko earned a one-shot win over Jessica Korda, Nelly Korda, Carlota Ciganda, and Yu Liu after going without a bogey over the final two rounds. The event, in its 10th year, was a 72-hole format played on a par 71 layout of 6656 yards. The purse was $3 million with 500 points towards the Race to the CME Globe awarded to the winner.

First Round

Jin Young Ko was two under at the turn and recorded six birdies on the first seven holes on the back nine. She finished the round at eight-under par, three shots clear of Sandra Gal. Brooke Henderson, Perrine Delacour, Yuka Saso, Nelly, So Yeon Ryu, and Amy Yang were four shots off the pace with rounds of 67. A group of 12 players were at three-under par that included Moriya Jutanugarn, Megan Khang, Hannah Green, Hyo Joo Kim, and In Gee Chun. Six shots back and still in the mix was a logjam of 18 players that included Ariya Jutanugarn, Jessica Korda, Minjee Lee, Lizette Salas, Hasa Nataoka, and Ally Ewing. Notables that were further off the pace and needed a good round to make the cut included Danielle Kang, Jeongeun Lee6, Inbee Park, Sei Young Kim, Lexi Thompson, Madelene Sagstrom, Sophia Popov, and Matilda Castren.

Second Round

Jin Young Ko held on to the lead at the midway point, shooting a round of 68 that included four birdies and a bogey. So Yeon Ryu moved to within two after a seven-birdie round of 66. Lindsey Weaver was in the mix after a round of 67 put her only four shots behind. Lexi Thompson posted a near flawless round of 65 to lead a group at six under par. Among those at five-under par included Minjee Lee, Brooke Henderson, and Yuka Saso. Nelly Korda overcame a three-over par stretch from 9 through 14 and was at four-under. Also at four-under was Wei-Ling Hsu who was fiver under over the last seven holes. Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn and Jasmine Suwannapura were at three-under. Jaye Marie Green’s 68 led a group at two-under that included Celine Boutier and Patty Tavatanakit.

Notables that played well enough to make the cut but were well off the pace were Ariya Jutangarn and Inbee Park (Even). At one-over was Sandra Gal, who shot a 77, Mel Reid, Mina Harigae, and Sophia Popov. Matilda Castren and Cristie Kerr missed the cut.

Third Round

After an up and down round of 69, Jin Young Ko remained on top at 13-under par. Elizabeth Szokol moved into a tie for second at nine-under after a round of 65. She was tied with Yuka Saso, Lindsey Weaver, and So Yeon Ryu. Nelly Korda got to within six after a round of 68. She was tied with notables such as Lexi Thompson and Perrine Delacour. After a round of 67, Jaye Marie Green was in at six-under along with Jeongeun Lee6 and Brooke Henderson. Nasa Hataoka shot a 66 and was positioned at five-under par. Also with a 66 was Mi Jung Hur, who was in a group of six at four-under par. Patty Tavatanakit, Gaby Lopez and Minjee Lee were at three-under. Notables well back entering the final round included Sophia Popov, Ariya Jutanugarn, and Madelene Sagstrom (Even), and Danielle Kang at one-over after a round of 75.

Final Round

Caroline Masson shot the round of the day with a 64. She finished at 14-under par and sole possession of second place. Gaby Lopez had the second-best round with a 65 that included six birdies and no bogeys. She finished at nine-under par. In Gee Chun’s 66 moved her into a tie for 25th. Also with a 66 was winner Jin Young Ko, who cruised to a final score of 266 and 18-under par. For Ko it was her third LPGA Tour win over the year and 10th in her career.

Elizabeth Szokol finished in third at 11-under par. Jeongeun Lee6 and Yuka Saso finished tied for 4th at 10-under par. Among those finishers at nine-under included Jessica Korda, Lindsey Weaver, and So Yeon Ryu. Moriya Jutanugarn finished in sole possession of 11th at eight-under par. Notables included Lexi Thompson (seven-under), Brooke Henderson (six-under), PattayTavatanakit and Nelly Korda (five-under), Inbee Park (four-under), Charley Hull, Madelene Sagstrom, Anna Nordqvist (two-under), and Ariya Jutanugarn (Even).

Coming Up

The ladies head to Busan, Korea for the BMW Ladies Championship to be played October 21-24. It took three extra holes to determine a winner in the inaugural event. KLPGA Tour player Ha Na Jang defeated Danielle Kang to earn her fifth LPGA win. This is the second year of the event, which is a 72-hole format played on a par 72 layout of 6726 yards. The purse is $2 million with 500 points towards the Race to the CME Globe for the winner.