Yealimi Noh Claims First LPGA Victory at Founders Cup

Posted : 10 February 2025

Yealimi Noh secured her first LPGA title in commanding fashion, overcoming South Korea’s Ko Jin-young in the closing stretch to claim the Founders Cup by four strokes. The 23-year-old American delivered a composed final round, carding a three-under-par 68 to finish at 21-under 263 at Florida’s Bradenton Country Club.

The victory marked a significant milestone for Noh, who had long sought a breakthrough on the LPGA Tour. Reflecting on her triumph, she expressed gratitude for her perseverance, stating that after enduring years of struggles, she had set her sights on making 2025 a defining year.

Ko, a three-time Founders Cup champion and two-time major winner, had appeared poised to challenge for the title but faltered in the final stretch with three bogeys in her last six holes, settling for second place at 267 after a closing 71.

American Megan Khang finished third on 268 with a solid round of 68. Noh’s previous best results on the LPGA Tour were runner-up finishes in 2019 at the Portland Classic and 2020 at the Volunteers of America Classic.

Having finally secured her first title, she acknowledged the boost in confidence the win provided, affirming that her ability to close out a tournament victory would fuel her aspirations for the remainder of the season.

A crucial factor in Noh’s success was her transition to a broomstick putter, a change she credited with revitalizing her game. Struggling with her putting in past seasons, she found renewed confidence with the switch, allowing her to navigate the greens more effectively.

Her final round showcased her consistency, as she birdied the par-4 second hole and then strung together ten consecutive pars before making decisive birdies at the 13th and 14th holes. Meanwhile, Ko had seized a brief one-stroke advantage with birdies at the fourth, sixth, and eighth holes, but her costly mistakes on the back nine ultimately derailed her chances.

As Noh maintained her composure, she managed a crucial par save from a greenside bunker at the par-5 17th before comfortably closing out her victory with a tap-in par at the 18th. The leaderboard featured a competitive field, with Australia’s Hannah Green, South Korea’s Im Jin-hee, and Japan’s Miyu Yamashita sharing fourth at 271.

Defending champion and world number one Nelly Korda finished in a tie for seventh at 272 alongside France’s Celine Boutier and Japan’s Minami Katsu. The win not only established Noh as a rising contender but also set the stage for what she hopes will be a standout season on the LPGA Tour.

Yealimi Noh Claims First LPGA Victory at Founders Cup

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