Nelly Korda (-8) has run out of options to achieve her sixth consecutive victory in the LPGA Tour and, therefore, achieve a historic record in women’s golf. Really, there is not much that can be blamed on the world’s Number One, if we take into account that she is perfectly situated in third position at the Upper Montclair Country Club in New Jersey. It’s not Korda’s responsibility, but two aliens who have decided to play for the victory in the Cognizant Founders Cup in a historic match play.
Madelene Sagstrom (-19) and Rose Zhang (-18) are simply playing another game this week. They arrive at the last 18 holes with eleven and ten strokes difference, respectively, over the third position. It’s another tournament. On one hand, the third position is being played and on the other, it will have to be decided who takes the trophy between the 31-year-old Swede and the 20-year-old American.
The head-to-head between the two has been absolute. Zhang started leading on Thursday, they tied on Friday and on Saturday it was Sagstrom who took the lead. We’ll see how the movie ends. It seems impossible that they can both lose such a beastly difference. If so and a comeback occurs, then it would be the story of the story, as long as, of course, Korda produced it.
Sagstrom handed in a 66-stroke card without bogeys on Saturday, while Zhang, who only had the lead after the first hole, made 67 with seven birdies and two bogeys. Both are chasing the second victory of their careers. Sagstrom achieved the first in 2020, while Zhang achieved it last year in her first tournament as a professional.
Korda lamented not having played better in the third round. “It wasn’t a day like Friday. Things didn’t go well for me and, besides, they are playing too well.”
In that fight for the third place, where Korda, Gabriela Ruffels and Sei Young Kim are currently tied, the Spanish Carlota Ciganda (-5) is also involved. She is currently tenth, after her round yesterday of 70 strokes. The Navarrese made six birdies and four bogeys, somehow the tone of the whole week, with very good shots that allow her to have good options and also some mistakes that prevent her from being closer to the lead. In any case, it is another consistent and solid week for the Navarrese golfer.
