Latest news with #LPGAClassic
West Australian
an hour ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Clutch Kupcho ends near three-year LPGA drought
Jennifer Kupcho has closed with an eight-foot birdie putt in light rain to hold off Ilhee Lee in the LPGA Classic, ending a drought of nearly three years without winning. Kupcho, whose four Tour titles include a major at the Chevron Championship, birdied three of the last five holes in New Jersey for a five-under 66. She took the lead with a 20-foot birdie putt from just off the green on the 14th, and avoided a playoff with the putt on 18. Lee was the 36-hole leader going into the final round on a rain-soaked Bay Course at Seaview Hotel, so drenched that the par-3 17th was moved up to play only 76 yards. The South Korean finished with five birdies on the back nine for a 68, but it wasn't enough to catch Kupcho. Kupcho finished at 15-under 198 in one of only two LPGA events contested over 54 holes. "I think in my mind I had set on 14 under, so I was really just trying to get to that number," the 28-year-old American said. "Obviously did a little better. Yeah, just feels really nice. Just kind of stayed in my zone the whole time." The 36-year-old Lee won her only LPGA title 12 years ago in the Bahamas on a course shortened to 12 holes because of historic rain. But she had played only 18 times in the last seven years, finishing off her college degree, working briefly and now a part-time golf teacher. "I worked for Financial Forum for 100 days and then got out," the world No.1426, who got into the field as a past tournament winner, said. "Then I realise, 'Oh, I'm good at golf.' So I got to teach golf. I started teaching a little bit, not full-time, but I was teaching a little bit and I loved it. I absolutely loved it. "So since then I was teaching a little bit and playing at the same time and rehabbing, more treatment on my shoulder and back and ankle. I still have few students waiting for me in LA so I get to see them next week." Kupcho gets a much-needed win after going without a trophy after her three-win 2022 season. "It just feels amazing," she said. "I think I struggled a lot early in the year and had a lot of tough weeks, a lot of hard conversations, and it feels good." South Korea's Sei Young Kim (65) was the third-place finisher, three strokes behind Kupcho. Japan's Ayaka Furue (70) was fourth at 11 under while six golfers tied for fifth at 10 under: South Korea's Jin Hee Im (68), Spain's Azahara Munoz (68), Germany's Aline Krauter (68), Japan's Mao Saigo (71), Miyu Yamashita (69) and Taiwan's Wei-Ling Hsu (69). World No.1 Nelly Korda (68) tied for 15th at eight under. Australia's Roby Choi, who started the final round three shots off the lead, carded a 70 to finish nine under and joint 11th. With Reuters & AAP.
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Clutch Kupcho ends near three-year LPGA drought
Jennifer Kupcho has closed with an eight-foot birdie putt in light rain to hold off Ilhee Lee in the LPGA Classic, ending a drought of nearly three years without winning. Kupcho, whose four Tour titles include a major at the Chevron Championship, birdied three of the last five holes in New Jersey for a five-under 66. She took the lead with a 20-foot birdie putt from just off the green on the 14th, and avoided a playoff with the putt on 18. Lee was the 36-hole leader going into the final round on a rain-soaked Bay Course at Seaview Hotel, so drenched that the par-3 17th was moved up to play only 76 yards. The South Korean finished with five birdies on the back nine for a 68, but it wasn't enough to catch Kupcho. Kupcho finished at 15-under 198 in one of only two LPGA events contested over 54 holes. "I think in my mind I had set on 14 under, so I was really just trying to get to that number," the 28-year-old American said. "Obviously did a little better. Yeah, just feels really nice. Just kind of stayed in my zone the whole time." The 36-year-old Lee won her only LPGA title 12 years ago in the Bahamas on a course shortened to 12 holes because of historic rain. But she had played only 18 times in the last seven years, finishing off her college degree, working briefly and now a part-time golf teacher. "I worked for Financial Forum for 100 days and then got out," the world No.1426, who got into the field as a past tournament winner, said. "Then I realise, 'Oh, I'm good at golf.' So I got to teach golf. I started teaching a little bit, not full-time, but I was teaching a little bit and I loved it. I absolutely loved it. "So since then I was teaching a little bit and playing at the same time and rehabbing, more treatment on my shoulder and back and ankle. I still have few students waiting for me in LA so I get to see them next week." Kupcho gets a much-needed win after going without a trophy after her three-win 2022 season. "It just feels amazing," she said. "I think I struggled a lot early in the year and had a lot of tough weeks, a lot of hard conversations, and it feels good." South Korea's Sei Young Kim (65) was the third-place finisher, three strokes behind Kupcho. Japan's Ayaka Furue (70) was fourth at 11 under while six golfers tied for fifth at 10 under: South Korea's Jin Hee Im (68), Spain's Azahara Munoz (68), Germany's Aline Krauter (68), Japan's Mao Saigo (71), Miyu Yamashita (69) and Taiwan's Wei-Ling Hsu (69). World No.1 Nelly Korda (68) tied for 15th at eight under. Australia's Roby Choi, who started the final round three shots off the lead, carded a 70 to finish nine under and joint 11th. With Reuters & AAP.
Kyodo News
14 hours ago
- Business
- Kyodo News
Kyodo News Digest: June 8, 2025
KYODO NEWS - 4 hours ago - 15:00 | All, Japan, World The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News. ---------- Japan aims to enlist 10 mil. in rural support registry TOKYO - The government plans to launch a new registration system to encourage people to keep strong connections with rural areas hit by depopulation, aiming to sign up more than 10 million users over the next decade. The initiative is a hallmark of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's efforts to revitalize regional areas, as Japan has been unsuccessful in reversing a long-term trend of overconcentration of people in Tokyo and other major cities. ---------- Japan telecom giant NTT Docomo to end own emoji after 26 yrs TOKYO - Japanese telecom giant NTT Docomo Inc. will retire its set of original emoji whose release 26 years ago helped shape the visual language of today's digital communications. The carrier's Android smartphones and feature phones marketed from June will not come with the Docomo emoji set. Announcing the decision in late May, the firm said they had "fulfilled their role" while noting that Google's emoji had become more common globally. ---------- Baseball: Yamamoto throws 6 shutout frames, but Dodgers fall to Cards ST. LOUIS, Missouri - Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw six scoreless innings, but the Los Angeles Dodgers offense was kept quiet in a 2-1 walk-off loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday. Pursuing his seventh win of the season, the Japanese right-hander left the mound with the game still scoreless after fanning nine while scattering four hits and two walks. ---------- Golf: Mao Saigo sinks rare albatross, moves up to 2nd at LPGA Classic GALLOWAY, New Jersey - Japanese golfer Mao Saigo scored a rare albatross Saturday on her way to a 6-under-par 65 that will see her tee off the final round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic trailing leader Lee Il Hee of South Korea by one stroke. The 23-year-old Saigo, a major winner at April's Chevron Championship, added to her highlight reel when she holed out with her second shot from 214 yards on the par-5 3rd hole at Seaview's Bay Course. ---------- Japan, EU eye launch of "competitive alliance" scheme to boost trade BRUSSELS - Japan and the European Union are preparing to launch an "alliance" framework to beef up their companies' competitiveness by promoting trade and economic security cooperation, diplomatic sources said Saturday, facing concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs and Chinese trade practices. The creation of the "Japan-EU Competitiveness Alliance" is expected to be announced at a regular summit meeting being arranged for July, when Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is likely to host European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, they said. ---------- Japan opposition lawmaker says rice reserves mostly go to chickens SAGA, Japan - A lawmaker of Japan's main opposition party said Saturday that government rice reserves recently put on sale are mostly consumed by chickens, doubling down on remarks that could be perceived as insensitive to people who have snapped up the old rice due to cheaper prices. Kazuhiro Haraguchi of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan made the remarks at a gathering in southwestern Japan to shore up support ahead of the upper house election, even after Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of another opposition party, apologized a week ago for likening the stockpiles to "animal feed." ---------- Japan, U.S. yet to find common ground on tariffs but want quick deal WASHINGTON - Japan and the United States have "yet to find common ground" on tariff issues, Tokyo's top negotiator said Friday, indicating that there remain many differences between the sides, but they still aim to clinch a win-win deal in mid-June. After holding talks with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington, Ryosei Akazawa told reporters that he believes "further progress" was made. ---------- Over half of rice producing firms feel store rice prices "too high" TOKYO - Over half of large-scale rice producers feel that store prices for rice are "too high," a recent survey conducted by an association of agricultural corporations showed, indicating that many of them share concerns with consumers about the elevated cost of the staple food in Japan. As households increasingly complain about rice prices that have doubled over the past year, more than 40 percent of respondents worried that consumers may start shunning the product. Video: Parade at Hyakumangoku Festival in Ishikawa Prefecture
The Advertiser
21 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Aussie remains in hunt for first LPGA Tour title
Australia's Robyn Choi is just three shots off the lead heading into the final round of the rain-affected LPGA Classic in New Jersey. Starting her Saturday in a tie for 20th, the 27-year-old from the Gold Coast enjoyed birdies on holes three through six, plus on the ninth, 17th and 18th. Bogeys on 15 and 16 saw her card a five-under 66 to sit in a tie for sixth at eight under, while compatriot Karis Davidson (68) is a further three shots back. They're both chasing Ilhee Lee, who shot a three-under 68 to take a one-stroke lead over four players into the third round. Tied for the first-round lead with Elizabeth Szokol after a 63, Lee rebounded from a double bogey on the par-4 eighth with a closing birdie on the par-5 ninth. The 36-year-old South Korean had an 11-under 131 total on Seaview's Bay Course. "Today was totally different day, completely different day, and I knew it was going to be completely different day, so I didn't have any expectations," Lee, who won the 2013 Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic for her lone tour title, said. "Just like I did yesterday, I was just playing golf. Have fun out there. Made some birdies on first nine." Szokol (69) dropped into a tie for second in the 54-hole event with fellow American Jennifer Kupcho (64) and Japanese players Ayaka Furue (66) and Mao Saigo (65), who had an albatross on the par-5 third. "Just trying to stay patient all day," Szokol said. "Didn't quite have things go as great as yesterday but still playing really good golf." Kupcho birdied the final two holes in her late afternoon round. "Wasn't hitting the ball super great off the tee, but at least out here it's manageable out of the rough or fairway bunkers," Kupcho said. "Was just really giving myself opportunities." Second-ranked Jeeno Thitikul shot her second 68 to get to six under, while world No.1 Nelly Korda (66) was five under. Maja Stark, the US Women's Open winner last week at Erin Hills, missed the cut with rounds of 70 and 75. Defending champion Linnea Strom also dropped out, shooting 72-75. With AP. Australia's Robyn Choi is just three shots off the lead heading into the final round of the rain-affected LPGA Classic in New Jersey. Starting her Saturday in a tie for 20th, the 27-year-old from the Gold Coast enjoyed birdies on holes three through six, plus on the ninth, 17th and 18th. Bogeys on 15 and 16 saw her card a five-under 66 to sit in a tie for sixth at eight under, while compatriot Karis Davidson (68) is a further three shots back. They're both chasing Ilhee Lee, who shot a three-under 68 to take a one-stroke lead over four players into the third round. Tied for the first-round lead with Elizabeth Szokol after a 63, Lee rebounded from a double bogey on the par-4 eighth with a closing birdie on the par-5 ninth. The 36-year-old South Korean had an 11-under 131 total on Seaview's Bay Course. "Today was totally different day, completely different day, and I knew it was going to be completely different day, so I didn't have any expectations," Lee, who won the 2013 Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic for her lone tour title, said. "Just like I did yesterday, I was just playing golf. Have fun out there. Made some birdies on first nine." Szokol (69) dropped into a tie for second in the 54-hole event with fellow American Jennifer Kupcho (64) and Japanese players Ayaka Furue (66) and Mao Saigo (65), who had an albatross on the par-5 third. "Just trying to stay patient all day," Szokol said. "Didn't quite have things go as great as yesterday but still playing really good golf." Kupcho birdied the final two holes in her late afternoon round. "Wasn't hitting the ball super great off the tee, but at least out here it's manageable out of the rough or fairway bunkers," Kupcho said. "Was just really giving myself opportunities." Second-ranked Jeeno Thitikul shot her second 68 to get to six under, while world No.1 Nelly Korda (66) was five under. Maja Stark, the US Women's Open winner last week at Erin Hills, missed the cut with rounds of 70 and 75. Defending champion Linnea Strom also dropped out, shooting 72-75. With AP. Australia's Robyn Choi is just three shots off the lead heading into the final round of the rain-affected LPGA Classic in New Jersey. Starting her Saturday in a tie for 20th, the 27-year-old from the Gold Coast enjoyed birdies on holes three through six, plus on the ninth, 17th and 18th. Bogeys on 15 and 16 saw her card a five-under 66 to sit in a tie for sixth at eight under, while compatriot Karis Davidson (68) is a further three shots back. They're both chasing Ilhee Lee, who shot a three-under 68 to take a one-stroke lead over four players into the third round. Tied for the first-round lead with Elizabeth Szokol after a 63, Lee rebounded from a double bogey on the par-4 eighth with a closing birdie on the par-5 ninth. The 36-year-old South Korean had an 11-under 131 total on Seaview's Bay Course. "Today was totally different day, completely different day, and I knew it was going to be completely different day, so I didn't have any expectations," Lee, who won the 2013 Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic for her lone tour title, said. "Just like I did yesterday, I was just playing golf. Have fun out there. Made some birdies on first nine." Szokol (69) dropped into a tie for second in the 54-hole event with fellow American Jennifer Kupcho (64) and Japanese players Ayaka Furue (66) and Mao Saigo (65), who had an albatross on the par-5 third. "Just trying to stay patient all day," Szokol said. "Didn't quite have things go as great as yesterday but still playing really good golf." Kupcho birdied the final two holes in her late afternoon round. "Wasn't hitting the ball super great off the tee, but at least out here it's manageable out of the rough or fairway bunkers," Kupcho said. "Was just really giving myself opportunities." Second-ranked Jeeno Thitikul shot her second 68 to get to six under, while world No.1 Nelly Korda (66) was five under. Maja Stark, the US Women's Open winner last week at Erin Hills, missed the cut with rounds of 70 and 75. Defending champion Linnea Strom also dropped out, shooting 72-75. With AP. Australia's Robyn Choi is just three shots off the lead heading into the final round of the rain-affected LPGA Classic in New Jersey. Starting her Saturday in a tie for 20th, the 27-year-old from the Gold Coast enjoyed birdies on holes three through six, plus on the ninth, 17th and 18th. Bogeys on 15 and 16 saw her card a five-under 66 to sit in a tie for sixth at eight under, while compatriot Karis Davidson (68) is a further three shots back. They're both chasing Ilhee Lee, who shot a three-under 68 to take a one-stroke lead over four players into the third round. Tied for the first-round lead with Elizabeth Szokol after a 63, Lee rebounded from a double bogey on the par-4 eighth with a closing birdie on the par-5 ninth. The 36-year-old South Korean had an 11-under 131 total on Seaview's Bay Course. "Today was totally different day, completely different day, and I knew it was going to be completely different day, so I didn't have any expectations," Lee, who won the 2013 Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic for her lone tour title, said. "Just like I did yesterday, I was just playing golf. Have fun out there. Made some birdies on first nine." Szokol (69) dropped into a tie for second in the 54-hole event with fellow American Jennifer Kupcho (64) and Japanese players Ayaka Furue (66) and Mao Saigo (65), who had an albatross on the par-5 third. "Just trying to stay patient all day," Szokol said. "Didn't quite have things go as great as yesterday but still playing really good golf." Kupcho birdied the final two holes in her late afternoon round. "Wasn't hitting the ball super great off the tee, but at least out here it's manageable out of the rough or fairway bunkers," Kupcho said. "Was just really giving myself opportunities." Second-ranked Jeeno Thitikul shot her second 68 to get to six under, while world No.1 Nelly Korda (66) was five under. Maja Stark, the US Women's Open winner last week at Erin Hills, missed the cut with rounds of 70 and 75. Defending champion Linnea Strom also dropped out, shooting 72-75. With AP.
West Australian
a day ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Aussie remains in hunt for first LPGA Tour title
Australia's Robyn Choi is just three shots off the lead heading into the final round of the rain-affected LPGA Classic in New Jersey. Starting her Saturday in a tie for 20th, the 27-year-old from the Gold Coast enjoyed birdies on holes three through six, plus on the ninth, 17th and 18th. Bogeys on 15 and 16 saw her card a five-under 66 to sit in a tie for sixth at eight under, while compatriot Karis Davidson (68) is a further three shots back. They're both chasing Ilhee Lee, who shot a three-under 68 to take a one-stroke lead over four players into the third round. Tied for the first-round lead with Elizabeth Szokol after a 63, Lee rebounded from a double bogey on the par-4 eighth with a closing birdie on the par-5 ninth. The 36-year-old South Korean had an 11-under 131 total on Seaview's Bay Course. "Today was totally different day, completely different day, and I knew it was going to be completely different day, so I didn't have any expectations," Lee, who won the 2013 Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic for her lone tour title, said. "Just like I did yesterday, I was just playing golf. Have fun out there. Made some birdies on first nine." Szokol (69) dropped into a tie for second in the 54-hole event with fellow American Jennifer Kupcho (64) and Japanese players Ayaka Furue (66) and Mao Saigo (65), who had an albatross on the par-5 third. "Just trying to stay patient all day," Szokol said. "Didn't quite have things go as great as yesterday but still playing really good golf." Kupcho birdied the final two holes in her late afternoon round. "Wasn't hitting the ball super great off the tee, but at least out here it's manageable out of the rough or fairway bunkers," Kupcho said. "Was just really giving myself opportunities." Second-ranked Jeeno Thitikul shot her second 68 to get to six under, while world No.1 Nelly Korda (66) was five under. Maja Stark, the US Women's Open winner last week at Erin Hills, missed the cut with rounds of 70 and 75. Defending champion Linnea Strom also dropped out, shooting 72-75. With AP.
