Jennifer Kupcho used a six-shot lead into the final round at The Chevron Championship to win her first Major and LPGA title.

After the final round of The Chevron Championship last year, there was a lot to live up to. Not only that, but this was also the final round of this Major Championship at Mission Hills – as The Chevron Championship moves location and date in 2023.

With a six-shot lead at the start of the day, it may have seemed that Jennifer Kupcho would just need to turn up and she would win. But as any seasoned armchair golf fan knows, nothing in golf is guaranteed.

Although, in the end, Kupcho was victorious – she won by two shots. A shaky back nine kept us guessing, even as she had a bogey putt on 17.

Watch The Chevron Championship final round highlights:

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The American’s round started well, dropping a shot on three but with three birdies she was seven shots clear after five holes. It was at the turn that it seemed that winning her first Major could be in doubt. By the 13, the lead was down to three shots but after a birdie on 15 there seemed to be a change in Kupcho’s demeanour.

Although she would go on to bogey both 17 and 18, her four-shot cushion was enough to beat Jessica Korda by two shots.

Korda in hunt for first Major

Jessica Korda The Chevron Championship
Jessica Korda - image credit LPGA/Getty Images

Korda started strong with an eagle from the fairway on the second along with two birdies on 11 and 12, and on the back nine she was two shots back of the lead heading into the par-four 15th. One bogey later and pars to finish out the final round, Korda ultimately finished in solo second at -12, her career-best finish in a major championship and the eighth runner-up performance of her career.

Korda seemed to be suffering with back spasms and had her trainer on the course during the final round. She commented after her round:

“I was further back starting than I wanted and bunch of lipouts, and it is what it is. Sometimes you got to be lucky to win majors, and I still haven't found that yet.”

Defending champion Patty Tavatanakit’s final round challenge just didn’t materialise. She didn’t play that badly but was just unable to get her putter to work and with bogeys at 15 and 16, she had to settle for even par round and a share of fourth place.

Slovenian golf being put on the map

The round of the day has to go to Slovenian Pia Babnik. The 18-year-old was playing on a sponsor’s exemption at Mission Hills. The two-time LET champion shot a final round six-under-par 66 which made her leap up the leaderboard and hold third place on her own.

“I'm really happy with the round, with how I played. So, yeah, just really, really happy. It's been great. It's such course that you have to be patient, and that's something that I did. Overall really happy with how it turned out.”

Before Kupcho, the first American since Brittany Lincicome in 2015, took her ceremonial leap into Poppie’s Pond, she said:

“I think it's surreal. To be a major winner is really special, and to be the last person here at Mission Hills to jump into Poppie's Pond, it's all really special.

“I am still shaking. It was so fun to be out there with Patty. It was a lot of hard work and deep breaths.”

Jennifer Kupcho The Chevron CHampionship
Jennifer Kupcho celebrates with her husband Jay Monahan - image credit LPGA/Getty Images

Kupcho was supported by her husband Jay Monahan, who she wed in February, over the final few holes after he finished caddying for fellow American Sarah Schmelzel who finished on four-under-par and a tie for 25th. Accompanied by Kupcho’s caddie David Eller, the three of them took the final leap into Poppie’s Pond.

With the win the 2019 ANWA Champion claimed her first LPGA title, the seventh player to make The Chevron Championship their first win on Tour.

After 51 years, the event will now move to Houston Texas and is likely to be played in May. No longer the first Major of the season, we’ll have to see whether this gives the event the opportunity to emerge out of the shadow of Augusta and get the recognition it deserves.

View the final round leaderboard of The Chevron Championship here.