Jennifer Kupcho Wins ShopRite LPGA Classic After Three-Year Drought
Jennifer Kupcho won the ShopRite LPGA Classic, ending a winless streak of almost three years. The American golfer sealed her victory with an eight-foot birdie under a light rain.
Kupcho, who has four LPGA Tour titles, including a major at the Chevron Championship, made birdies on three of the last five holes, finishing with a 66 (-5). She took the lead with a 20-foot birdie on the 14th hole and secured the victory with the putt on the 18th, avoiding a playoff. Ilhee Lee, leader after the first two rounds, had an outstanding performance despite the adverse conditions at the Bay Course of the Seaview Hotel. Lee, with two early bogeys, rallied with five birdies in the second half of the course, including the last two holes, for a 68.Kupcho finished the tournament with a total of 15 under par (198), in one of the few LPGA events played over 54 holes.
“I really wasn’t thinking about anything else. In my mind, I had set my sights on 14 under par, so I was really trying to get to that number. Obviously, I did a little better. Yeah, it just feels really good. I just stayed in my zone the whole time,” Kupcho stated.
Jennifer Kupcho
Lee, 36, won her only LPGA title 12 years ago in the Bahamas. After some time away from the circuit, focusing on her education and working in the financial sector, Lee returned to golf, combining her participation in tournaments with teaching.
Kupcho, after a successful 2022 season with three victories, needed this win.“It feels amazing. I think I had a lot of struggles earlier in the year and had a lot of tough weeks, a lot of tough conversations, and it feels good,” Kupcho added.
Jennifer Kupcho
Kupcho also commented that she carried the momentum from the previous week at the U.S. Women’s Open, despite not having made the cut.
“I think I just carried my ball-striking into this week. I hit the ball really well last week, hit it well this week, and just holed some putts,” he concluded.
