Korda "I Claim the 2-Win Champion Spot"... Jeon Inzi Tied for 3rd, 4 Strokes Behind

Final Day of Meyer Classic: 5-Under Par '2-Stroke Victory', Maguire 2nd, Park In-bi Tied 10th, Ko Jin-young Tied 57th

Nelly Korda (right) is striking a fun pose with her older sister Jessica right after winning the Meijer Classic. Grand Rapids, USA = Getty Images / Multibits

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Nelly Korda (USA) has become the season's first 'multi-champion.'

On the 21st (Korean time), at the Blythefield Golf Club in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA (par 72, 6,556 yards), she added 5 under par on the final day of the LPGA Tour Meijer Classic (total prize money $2.3 million) to complete a 2-stroke victory (25 under par 263). This is her second win of the season, three months after winning the Gainbridge LPGA in March. It is her fifth career victory, with a winner's prize of $345,000 (3.9 billion KRW).

Korda started with a 3-stroke lead and recorded 1 eagle, 6 birdies, and 3 bogeys. Although she was briefly caught in a tie for the lead after scoring 2 under par with 4 birdies and 2 bogeys over 13 holes, she effectively secured the win with an eagle on the 14th hole (par 5) and a birdie on the 15th hole (par 3). She relied on an average drive of 262 yards and 28 'stingy putts.' Her 10-under-par daily best on the previous day helped her dominate the leaderboard and secure the victory.

Korda debuted in 2017 and has grown to be ranked 4th in the world. Following her sister Jessica Korda's win at the 2021 season opener Diamond Resort Tournament, she made headlines by achieving the rare feat of 'sisters winning consecutive tournaments.' The first-ever sisters to win consecutive tournaments were Swedish sisters Annika and Charlotta Sorenstam in March 2000. She exclaimed, "I struggled early by missing the fairways, but still finished well."

Rookie Leona Maguire (Ireland) performed well by sweeping 6 birdies without any bogeys but settled for 2nd place (23 under par 265). This is her personal best since tying for 2nd at the Lotte Championship in April. Brittany Altomare (USA) shot 9 under par to leap into a tie for 3rd place (21 under par 267). Ariya Jutanugarn (Thailand) tied for 10th (17 under par 271), and Lexi Thompson (USA) tied for 20th (15 under par 273).

From Korea, Jeon In-ji (27, KB Financial Group) surged with 9 under par to join the group tied for 3rd place. This is her first top 3 finish in 2 years and 8 months since winning the KEB Hana Bank Championship in October 2018. Golf legend Park In-bee (33, KB Financial Group) dropped 5 strokes to finish tied for 10th, marking her 7th top 10 of the season. Kim A-rim (26, SBI Savings Bank) tied for 54th (10 under par 278), and 'Number 1' Ko Jin-young (26) tied for 57th (9 under par 279).