Mexico City (AFP) – Top-ranked Nelly Korda cruised through Sunday’s final round to win the Riviera Maya Open, capturing her 18th career LPGA triumph and second in as many weeks. Korda matched the sensational 2001 start of Swedish legend Annika Sorenstam with her sixth top-two finish in as many events this season, taking her third victory of the year.
Coming off her third major title last week, the 27-year-old American fired a three-under par 69 to finish 72 holes on 17-under 271 for a four-stroke victory at El Camaleon in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Korda shattered the old 72-hole event record of 12-under.
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“I’m just enjoying myself and I love the competition,” Korda said when asked if she was playing the best golf of her life. “I love traveling to places like Mexico, all over the world, and I’m just having fun. We always put in the same exact amount of work and you just never know. It’s golf.”
Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol fired a closing 70 to finish second on 275, with China’s Liu Yu third on 276, American Brianna Do fourth on 278, and Colombian amateur Maria Jose Marin fifth on 280. Korda made only two bogeys all week, and one came on the final hole, when she lost her tee shot and found a bunker but scrambled to make a long bogey putt to complete the triumph.
“On the last hole I was humbled by golf,” Korda said. “I had a pretty smooth day and on the last hole it just kind of humbles you a little bit.”
It has still been an amazing start to the year for Korda, who captured last week’s Chevron Championship and also won the season-opening LPGA Tournament of Champions. She finished second at the LPGA Founders Cup and Ford Championship in March and last month’s Aramco Championship.
“You put in the work and sometimes it works out,” Korda said. “I’m just grateful I have an amazing team that no matter through the ups and downs we’ve all stayed the same. We all are super motivated and just happy to be out here.”
Korda eagled the par-five fifth hole and followed with birdies at the sixth and par-five seventh to reach 18-under par, stretching her lead to six strokes. At the par-five 18th, Korda suffered a lost ball off the tee, then found a bunker before closing with a bogey.
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