Zhang rallies for 2nd LPGA win at Founders

Rose Zhang birdied four of her last five holes to overtake Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom and win her second LPGA title at the Cognizant Founders Cup on Sunday in Clifton, N.J.

Zhang, 20, posted a 6-under 66 in her final round to reach 24-under 264 at Upper Montclair Country Club, two better than Sagstrom, who carded a 69 Sunday. The pair ran away from the pack on the weekend, as Australia’s Gabriela Ruffels (71) was a distant third at 9 under.

Zhang’s triumph ended Nelly Korda’s personal five-tournament winning streak. Korda was trying to become the first player in LPGA history to win six consecutive starts, but she posted 73 for the second straight day and tied for seventh at 7 under.

“I’m still shaking right now,” Zhang said. “I think I never gave up. I always knew I had something in me to just grind it out, enjoy the time.”

Sagstrom began the day with a oneshot lead and recovered from an opening bogey by birdieing four of her next seven holes. Zhang only went 2 under par on the front nine, and when Sagstrom added a birdie at No. 12 to Zhang’s par, the Swede led by three.

But Sagstrom would not birdie again, playing her final six holes in 1 over par. Zhang got off the schneid by making a 4 at the par-5 14th, then sticking her tee shot at the par-3 15th a few feet from the pin to set up another birdie.

After Sagstrom bogeyed the 16th to create a tie for the lead, Zhang took advantage and finished birdie-birdie.

“It almost felt like match play,” said Zhang, who won her professional debut 11 months ago in nearby Jersey City. “I was telling my dad in the car (Saturday) that I played her at Solheim Cup last year and I knew she was a solid player. No matter what anyone else says, I know she can rise to the occasion no problem. So I had to really stay patient and find it in me to get it done.”

Sagstrom, ranked No. 62 in the world, was also looking for her second career LPGA victory Sunday.

“Just being in this position, this is what we all trying to do. We’re trying to feel these nerves,” the 31-year-old said. “I was nervous today. I chunked a chip on 1. Just pure nerves.

“I think you’re not going to learn by not being here. And I mean, I played unbelievable golf this week. We’re the only two that’s been really low. I have to look at the positive. … My time will come.”

Korda was in the mix after the first two rounds, trailing 36-hole co-leaders Zhang and Sagstrom by only four. But after an up-and-down Saturday, Korda managed just two bogeys and a birdie amid 15 pars Sunday.

Her five-tournament winning streak tied Nancy Lopez and Annika Sorenstam as the longest in LPGA history.

“Hasn’t even sunk in. Probably maybe now or maybe in like 10, 15 years it’ll sink in,” Korda said. “Hopefully someone beats (the record) one day.

“But just to do that with all the competition out here is super, super rewarding with how much work that I’ve put in. So I think to get a streak like that in any sport in general is amazing with the amount of talent that I feel like every athlete has in their sport.”

Wells Fargo Championship

Rory McIlroy’s eagle on the par-5 10th hole added to his final-round momentum on his way to winning the Wells Fargo Championship for the fourth time Sunday at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C.

The Northern Irishman shot a finalround 6-under-par 65 for a tournament total of 17-under 267, good for a five-stroke advantage on runner-up Xander Schauffele, who had 71 in the final round.

Beginning with birdies on Nos. 8 and 9, McIlroy overcame Schauffele. The 34-foot eagle putt at No. 10 matched Schauffele’s eagle from the seventh hole, and McIlroy pushed his advantage to four shots with another birdie at the par-3 13th.

In a six-hole span, McIlroy charged from two shots behind to a four-shot lead.

McIlroy excelled at times when it might have looked challenging. On the 14th hole, he blasted out of a sand bunker and sank the ensuing putt for a birdie. He knocked in a shot from a greenside bunker for another eagle on No. 15.

McIlroy also won the tournament in 2010, 2015 and 2021. The margin of victory in 2015 was seven shots, something that appeared likely again until a mishap on the final hole when his approach shot bounced into the water behind the green and he ended up with double bogey.

The tournament’s only other multitime winner is Max Homa, who has won it twice. He finished tied for eighth this year at 4 under after a final-round 69.

Schauffele, who led after each of the first three rounds, held a one-shot edge on McIlroy entering Sunday. It was a twoman showdown in the last round.

Myrtle Beach Classic

Chris Gotterup won the inaugural Myrtle Beach Classic and a ticket to next week’s PGA Championship thanks to another low round on Sunday in South Carolina. The PGA Tour rookie’s family made it to The Dunes Golf and Beach Club on Mother’s Day in time to see him win his first PGA Tour title. Gotterup, 24, said the flowers he had ordered for his mother were delayed until Monday.

“So I gave her at least something today,” Gotterup said. “But it’s awesome. They came down this morning, and after the first two holes they were probably a little iffy, but yeah, just a great day.”

Gotterup held the 36-hole lead and never let up. He went 66-64-65-67 for the week to post a 22-under 262, beating Alistair Docherty (64) and Davis Thompson (68) by six strokes.

The former Jack Nicklaus Award winner for the best player in college golf, Gotterup opened his day bogey-bogey but got those strokes back and then some. He made a 7-foot birdie at No. 3, an 11-foot eagle putt at No. 4 and a 23-footer for birdie at the par-3 No. 5.

Regions Tradition

Doug Barron posted a 4-under 68 to secure his first title at a PGA Tour Champions major in Birmingham, Ala. He finished at 17-under 271, two strokes ahead of New Zealand’s Steven Alker.