Cognizant Founders Cup Day 1: Saxstrom Leads, Hataoka 3rd, 2016 Champs Kim Se-young and Park Sung-hyun Tied 14th
Yang Hee-young is teeing off on the 2nd hole on the first day of the Cognizant Founders Cup. Clifton, USA = Getty Images / Multibits
[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Yang Hee-young (33, Woori Financial Group) has made a fresh start.
On the 13th (Korean time), at the Clifton Upper Montclair Golf Club in New Jersey, USA (par 72, 6,536 yards), the first day of the 11th event of the 2022 LPGA Tour season, the Cognizant Founders Cup (total prize money $3 million), Yang shot 6 under par to tie for 4th place. Madelene Saxstr?m (Sweden) leads with 9 under par 63, Megan Kang (USA) is 2nd with 8 under par 64, and Nasa Hataoka (Japan) is 3rd with 7 under par 65.
Yang Hee-young recorded 1 eagle, 6 birdies, and 2 bogeys. After back-to-back birdies on holes 10 and 12, she faltered with a bogey on hole 15, then a birdie on hole 17 (both par 3s) was offset by a bogey on hole 18 (par 4), resulting in only a 1-stroke gain in the front nine. However, in the back nine, she showed strong finishing power with an eagle on hole 2 (par 5), a birdie on hole 3, and consecutive birdies on holes 7 and 8. She powered through with an average drive of 264 yards and 28 putts. She is 3 strokes behind the leader, in a position to aim for a comeback victory.
Yang Hee-young is a veteran who debuted in 2008 and has accumulated 4 career wins. She is especially known as a "tournament specialist," having won the Honda LPGA Thailand in 2015, 2017, and 2019. However, she has been experiencing a win drought for 3 years and 3 months since her victory at the Honda LPGA Thailand in February 2019. This year, she has participated in 8 tournaments and entered the top 10 three times. Her personal best finish is tied for 4th at the Honda LPGA Thailand. In the last two tournaments, she missed the cut and withdrew.
Madeleine Sakstrom is preparing to putt on the 18th hole on the first day of the Cognizant Founders Cup. Clifton, USA=Getty Images/Multivitz Photo by Multivitz
Saxstr?m displayed flawless play, sweeping up 9 birdies without a bogey, including 4 consecutive birdies. Her 25 putts were outstanding. She entered the US stage in 2017 and won once at the Gainbridge LPGA in 2020. Hataoka also showed strong form with 1 eagle and 5 birdies. After winning the DIO Implant LA Open last month, she has a chance for her second win of the season. Marina Alex (USA), winner of the Palos Verdes Championship, struggled, tied for 116th place (2 over par 74).
Korea’s 2016 champion Kim Sei-young (29, Mediheal) started solidly, tied for 14th place (4 under par 68). Park Sung-hyun (29), Choi Woon-jung (32, Volvik), and Jeon Ji-won (25, KB Financial Group) are also in this group. Ko Jin-young (27), aiming for her third consecutive tournament win, recorded 6 birdies and 3 bogeys to tie for 22nd place (3 under par 69). KLPGA Championship winner Kim A-rim (27, SBI Savings Bank) and rookie Choi Hye-jin (23, Lotte) also joined the group tied for 22nd place.
Ko Jin-young is watching her tee shot on the 2nd hole during the first day of the Cognizant Founders Cup. Clifton, USA = Getty Images / Multibits
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