Virgin of any success on the LPGA Tour, Jennifer Kupcho offers her first victory in a Major. The American wins at -14 (274) despite a last card of 74 (+2). She is two points ahead of her compatriot Jessica Korda while the Slovenian Pia Babnik, winner of the Jabra Ladies Open 2021 in Evian, completes the podium. Author of a magnificent 67 (-5) without error, Céline Boutier tied for fourth place and achieved her best performance in a Grand Slam tournament!
L.V.
His six-point lead after 54 holes was already almost a victory. This “comfortable mattress” thus allowed the American Jennifer Kupcho to end his week at Rancho Mirage (California) with a very contrasting 74 (+2) (five birdies, seven bogeys), sufficient however to be two lengths ahead of his compatriot Jessica Korda-12 (276), while the Slovenian Pia Babnikwinner of Jabra Ladies Open (LET) in June 2021, alone takes third place at -11 (277).
At 24, the golfer from Colorado unlocks her meter here, on the Dinah Shore Tournament Race and therefore becomes the last player to perform the traditional dive in Poppie’s Pond, this piece of water adjoining the green of 18. The tournament, as we know, renamed this year The Chevron Championship (after being called ANA Inspiration), moves to Houston (Texas) in 2023.
The Last Leap.
What a moment for @jenniferkupcho. ???????? pic.twitter.com/3U9utQ8ahu
– LPGA (@LPGA) April 4, 2022
First American to win at Rancho Mirage since Brittany Lincicome in 2015, Jennifer Kupcho, three years after her success at l’Augusta National Women’s Amateurwinner in 2018 of the NCAA for Wake Forest Universityon the other hand, failed to break the record of Dottie Pepper in 1999, an incredible -19 which will therefore remain for eternity the absolute mark on this magnificent par 72.
Certainly overtaken by emotion, Kupcho nevertheless experienced a stressful end to the game since she thus conceded four bogeys (against a single birdie) on her last six holes, necessarily feeling the wind of the ball before Jessica Kordathough handicapped by back pain, made her only mistake on 15 (bogey) after a clear round so far (eagle on 3, birdie on 11 then 12).
.@Thejessicakorda with the answer! ????
She’s in solo second in search of her first major title
Watch now on @GolfChannel! pic.twitter.com/UVSarecb0J
– LPGA (@LPGA) April 3, 2022
The best card of this last round is to be credited to the Slovenian Pia Babnik and… Japanese Hinako Shibunomid-term leader, with a very solid 66 (-6).
Very solid too Celine Boutier, masterful with his card of 67 (-5) (see above) without error (one eagle, three birdies). By finishing tied for 4th at -10 (278) with the outgoing champion, the Thai Patty Tavatanakit Hinako Shibuno and the American Lexi Thompsonthe Francilienne based in Dallas (Texas) recorded both her best performance here in California but also her best result in a Major (she took 5th place at theUS Open 2019). 18th in the world on Thursday morning, this very nice top 5 will also allow him to advance further in Rolex Ranking !
4-under thru 8 ????@celineboutier is charging up the leaderboard at the @Chevron_Golf pic.twitter.com/LCusuLkSpA
– LPGA (@LPGA) April 3, 2022
Nice finish also for Pauline Roussin-Bouchard who, by posting a 71 (-1), grants himself 35th place at -1 (285) at the same time offering himself his reference ranking in Major (38th until then in Evian in 2021).
« This day is very similar to Saturday, without the eagle on the 18analyzes his coach, Alain Alberti. Pauline took 17 greens, made 34 putts… She also took a lot of fairways (11 out of 14). It’s a solid game. Without having stolen any points on the course, by making one or two small mistakes on the course, she finds herself 35th… Basically, I don’t see how she could have done one more shot. So it’s potentially encouraging. We say to ourselves that by playing at this level of play, it’s a top 10 without problem on a Major… »
With a second under par (a 71) after his 69 in the second round, Perrine Delacour finished 63rd at +1 (289). La Picarde had finished the 2020 edition in 30th place…
The summary of the 4th round
The leaderboard
Photo : LPGA
