Korda finishes strongly for LPGA Malaysia triumph

Jessica Korda of the US celebrates with her trophy after winning the Sime Darby
LPGA Malaysia at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club. – Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: What a remarkable turnaround for American Jessica Korda.

The 22-year-old, who made only one cut in her previous six starts, clinched her fourth victory on the LPGA Tour after closing with a second consecutive six-under 65 – her best round of the year – to win the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC) on Sunday.

Korda, the overnight leader, finished with an 18-under 266 to win by four strokes over world No. 2 Lydia Ko of New Zealand and No. 3 Stacy Lewis of the United States and defending champion Feng Shanshan of China.

Going into the final round with a two-shot lead, Korda picked up from where she left off with an immaculate show. In the first 10 holes, she had five birdies in a seven-hole stretch to build a four-shot lead.

Although Korda gave away a shot with her only blemish of the day on the 11th, a victory was never in doubt when she added two more birdies on the 15th and 17th.

Korda got teary eyed as she went on to hole the final par putt to bag her first title since the Airbus LPGA Classic in May last year.

Asked why she was so emotional, Korda said: “The struggle. I think just struggling and being at your lowest and going through these emotions. All the support that I’ve had, the people that have stuck with me this year and didn’t stop believing in me. All that hit me a little bit.”

Korda was not surprised by her own comeback to form, saying that she knew that her barren run would eventually come to an end.

“I think it was just a long time coming. I knew that I was getting really close and just needed to stay patient,” said Korda, who picked up US$300,000 (RM1.24mil) for her biggest pay cheque of her career.

Lydia and Shanshan posted identical 66s while Lewis signed for a 67 for her seventh runner-up finish since May last year.

“Jess played unbelievable today. Nobody was going to beat her. When you have a two-shot lead and shoot six-under, it’s pretty hard to beat,” said Lewis.

Lydia, who was gunning for her third successive LPGA Tour win, made a strong start and was at one stage within two shots off the lead. But she faded away on the back nine.

Former world No. 1 Tseng Yani of Taiwan finished fifth on 13-under 271 after a 66, one shot ahead of Jang Ha-na of South Korea.

World No. 1 Park In-bee, the 2012 champion, was out of sorts as she closed with a 72 to settle for joint 15th on 277.

-thestar online.