CLIFTON, NJ — Madelene Sagstrom and Rose Zhang left Nelly Korda and everyone else far behind on Saturday at the Cognizant Founders Cup.
Trying to win a record sixth straight LPGA Tour event, Korda trailed 11 shots behind Sagstrom and 10 behind two-time NCAA champion Zhang with one round remaining at Upper Montclair Country Club.
After months of near-perfect play, Korda inexplicably hit bad drives, found bunkers from the fairway and missed short points. He shot a 1-over 73.
Sagstrom, who has played well on this course the past three years, had a 66 to move to 19-under 197. Zhang, who won in her professional debut at New Jersey State a year ago, had a 67 after a short birdie on No. 18.
Barring something unexpected, one of them will win her second LPGA Tour title. Sagstrom, 31, has not won since 2020. The Swede had a round of six bogey-free birdies, highlighted by three in a row over the final three holes on the front nine.
The 20-year-old Zhang, who won the Mizuho Americas Open in Jersey City last year, had seven birdies and two bogeys.
Korda tied for third at 8 under with South Korea’s Sei Young Kim and Australia’s Gabriela Ruffels, who each shot 67.
Korda is now 11 shots behind leader Madelene Sagstrom in the Cognizant Founders Cup.
The 25-year-old Korda had three birdies and four bogeys, the first coming in the hole he had made after finding shelter from the fairway.
The LPGA Tour record for longest deficit overcome in winning a tournament is 10 shots. It has been done three times with Mickey Wright (1964). Annika Sorenstam (2001) and Louise Friberg (2008).
Korda entered the tournament having taken two weeks off after winning the Chevron Championship. It was her fifth straight title and tied her with Hall of Famers Sorenstam (2004-05) and Nancy Lopez (1978) for the tour’s longest winning streak.