Latest news with #ShopRiteClassic
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jennifer Kupcho Gets Candid After Ending 3-Year Drought
Jennifer Kupcho Gets Candid After Ending 3-Year Drought originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The ShopRite LPGA Classic once again lived up to its legacy, delivering thrilling moments on a rain-soaked Seaview Bay Course in Galloway, New Jersey. Known as a 54-hole sprint, the event has a strong tradition of major champions taking the crown 20 in the last 27 editions and this year was no different. Advertisement Jennifer Kupcho clinched her fourth LPGA title with a closing 5-under 66, finishing at 15-under 198, one shot ahead of South Korea's Ilhee Lee. The 28-year-old golfer hadn't won since her three-title run in 2022. She entered the week following a missed cut at the U.S. Women's Open but quickly rebounded. Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images "So like random stuff like that just to like keep my mind off of it," Kupcho said. At no.2 of the tournament, Ilhee Lee was playing her first event of 2025 and reminded everyone of her talent despite limited play in recent years. Her 68 wasn't quite enough, but she left a mark with her inspiring comeback story. Kupcho said she stayed in her zone and was simply trying to hit a target. 'I think in my mind I had set on 14 under, so I was really just trying to get to that number. Obviously did a little better,' she said per ESPN. Advertisement Even while leading, she found ways to lighten the mood. 'Halfway through the round we were trying to figure out the difference between an otter and a beaver,' Kupcho laughed. 'Just random stuff like that to keep my mind off it.' Earlier this year, Kupcho had tough conversations with her support team. 'I felt like I had completely lost what I was doing,' she admitted. But on Sunday, with the rain falling and nerves calm, she rediscovered her rhythm, and her smile. Related: World's No. 1 LPGA Golfer Sends Clear Message Ahead of Final Round of ShopRite Classic This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Washington Post
a day ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Jennifer Kupcho wins ShopRite LPGA Classic, ending nearly 3-year drought
GALLOWAY, N.J. — Jennifer Kupcho closed with an 8-foot birdie putt in light rain to hold off Ilhee Lee on Sunday in the ShopRite LPGA Classic, ending a drought of nearly three years without winning. Kupcho, whose four LPGA Tour titles include a major at the Chevron Championship, birdied three of the last five holes for a 5-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.
Associated Press
a day ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Jennifer Kupcho wins ShopRite LPGA Classic, ending nearly 3-year drought
GALLOWAY, N.J. (AP) — Jennifer Kupcho closed with an 8-foot birdie putt in light rain to hold off Ilhee Lee on Sunday in the ShopRite LPGA Classic, ending a drought of nearly three years without winning. Kupcho, whose four LPGA Tour titles include a major at the Chevron Championship, birdied three of the last five holes for a 5-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. She had two early bogeys and shot 39 on the front to fall back. But the South Korean finished strong, with five birdies on the back, including the last two holes, for a 68. It wasn't enough to catch Kupcho, who was in her own world. Kupcho finished at 15-under 198 in one of only two LPGA events contested over 54 holes. 'I really just wasn't thinking about anything else,' Kupcho said. 'I think in my mind I had set on 14 under, so I was really just trying to get to that number. 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 and working briefly for Financial Forum. Lately, she has been a part-time golf teacher. Lee got into the field as a past tournament winner, at No. 1,426 in the women's world ranking. 'I worked for Financial Forum for 100 days and then got out,' Lee said. 'Then I realize, '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,' Kupcho 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.' She said she carried some momentum from last week in the U.S. Women's Open, even though she missed the cup. 'Me and the U.S. Open sometimes just don't get along. I think I just carried my ball striking into this week,' Kupcho said. 'Hit the ball really well last week, hit it well this week, and just sunk some putts.' ___ AP golf:
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jennifer Kupcho wins ShopRite LPGA Classic, ending nearly 3-year drought
GALLOWAY, N.J. (AP) — Jennifer Kupcho closed with an 8-foot birdie putt in light rain to hold off Ilhee Lee on Sunday in the ShopRite LPGA Classic, ending a drought of nearly three years without winning. Kupcho, whose four LPGA Tour titles include a major at the Chevron Championship, birdied three of the last five holes for a 5-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. Advertisement 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. She had two early bogeys and shot 39 on the front to fall back. But the South Korean finished strong, with five birdies on the back, including the last two holes, for a 68. It wasn't enough to catch Kupcho, who was in her own world. Kupcho finished at 15-under 198 in one of only two LPGA events contested over 54 holes. 'I really just wasn't thinking about anything else,' Kupcho said. 'I think in my mind I had set on 14 under, so I was really just trying to get to that number. Obviously did a little better. Yeah, just feels really nice. Just kind of stayed in my zone the whole time.' Advertisement 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 and working briefly for Financial Forum. Lately, she has been a part-time golf teacher. Lee got into the field as a past tournament winner, at No. 1,426 in the women's world ranking. 'I worked for Financial Forum for 100 days and then got out,' Lee said. "Then I realize, '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.' Advertisement Kupcho gets a much-needed win after going without a trophy after her three-win 2022 season. 'It just feels amazing,' Kupcho 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.' She said she carried some momentum from last week in the U.S. Women's Open, even though she missed the cup. 'Me and the U.S. Open sometimes just don't get along. I think I just carried my ball striking into this week,' Kupcho said. 'Hit the ball really well last week, hit it well this week, and just sunk some putts.' ___ AP golf:
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sei Young Kim aces 76-yard par-3 17th to take clubhouse lead at ShopRite LPGA
Sei Young Kim aced the small but mighty 17th at the ShopRite LPGA Classic to post the clubhouse lead. The 32-year-old South Korean holed out from 76 yards on the penultimate hole with a pitching wedge, clanking it off the flagstick and into the cup. She followed it with a birdie on the closing par 5 at Seaview's Bay Course to post a 6-under 65 and get to 12 under for the tournament. Kim is a 12-time winner on the LPGA, though winless since 2020. "I hit the right number and I saw the bounce, one, and in," said Kim. "I was like, wow. My skin everywhere was goosebump." Advertisement At the time of Kim's ace, the par-3 17th was ranked 15th in difficulty on Sunday with a scoring average 2.84. As Kim finished up her round, the leader, Jennifer Kupcho, was just making the turn on a rainy, windy, and chilly afternoon near Atlantic City. Kim was rolling along with birdies on six of her first 13 holes before a double-bogey on the 14th and bogey on the 15th seemingly dropped her out of contention. Sei Young Kim of Korea waves to the crowd on the 13th green during the final round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer 2025 at Seaview Bay Course on June 08, 2025 in Galloway, New Jersey. "It was like a rollercoaster, up and down, up and down," said Kim. "Yeah, back nine starting four hole I made three in a row birdie. My thoughts like it could be win, possibly. Advertisement "That thinking made me a little bit nervous. That's why my tee shot hole 14 goes way right." The ace on the 17th was the third of her career, with two coming on the LPGA and one on the Korean LPGA. After the round, Kim changed her flight to see how the rest of the afternoon unfolds and prepare for a possible playoff. This article originally appeared on Golfweek: LPGA's Sei Young Kim hole-in-one on 76-yard hole at ShopRite Classic
