A birdie secured victory and a second tour title for 20-year-old Jessica Korda at the season-opening Bahamas LPGA Classic. Korda shot a 7-under-par 66 and finished with a 19-under winning total of 273.
Jessica Korda's unusual birdie at the 72nd hole lifted her to a one-shot triumph over Stacy Lewis Sunday in the season-opening Bahamas LPGA Classic.
Tied for the lead with Lewis as she arrived at the Ocean Club Golf Course's par-five finishing hole, Korda found the fairway with her drive.
Her second shot went through the back of the green, stopping near some cables at the base of the grandstand.
Her caddie and a tournament official held the cables up as she putted onto the green to within five feet of the pin, and when she converted the birdie, the 20-year-old's second LPGA Tour victory was complete.
"That was different - it was like a jump rope," said Korda, calling the win "Incredible".
She said she was so nervous she "could barely put the golf ball down" for her final putt.
Korda shot a seven-under-par 66 and finished with a 19-under winning total of 273.
Her previous LPGA Tour win came at the 2012 Women's Australian Open, the season-opening event in February of that year.
"I don't know, maybe I pay attention more to detail, and I'm more relaxed out here," of the fact that her two wins have both come in season-opening events. "I don't know, but whatever it is I need to figure it out and do it more often."
Lewis, who played a group ahead of Korda, also shot 66 and was alone in second on 18-under 274.
Overnight leader Choi Na-Yeon of South Korea carded a 72 to finish tied for third on 276, level with Americans Paula Creamer (69) and Lizette Salas (71) and Thailand's Pornanong Phatlum (67).
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