Jennifer Kupcho, the 28-year-old from Colorado, won her fourth LPGA Tour event of her career at the ShopRite LPGA Classic by one stroke at -15.
Kupcho came into the final day in Galloway, New Jersey back one stroke of the unlikely story of Ilhee Lee, who was looking for her first win since 2013. That lead disappeared pretty quick, as Lee shot +3 on the front nine.
Kupcho was in control early, with three birdies on her first five, but ran into some struggles as the weather worsened. While she made a birdie on hole nine but had bogeys on six and 11. She finished strong, making birdies on 14 and 16.
Lee wasn’t going away after the tough start though, making birdies on 9, 10, 11, 14 and 17. Kupcho walked on to the short par 5 18 with a one-stroke lead. After Lee put a terrific shot on the green for her second, pressure was on Kupcho. She hit an eight iron just short.
After Kupcho hit putter from off the green well short, Lee had a look at eagle for a potential win in regulation. She just missed, leaving a mid-length putt to win for Kupcho. She nailed it in the center of the hole, clinching her first win since 2022, when she won three times.
The major champion had fallen outside of the top 60 in the world, but will move up significantly after this. It will also give her plenty of Solheim Cup points, which may be essential after two mediocre performances in the competition in a row. She joins Angel Yin and Yealimi Noh as Americans to win on the LPGA Tour in 2025.
