Jessica Korda holed a six-foot birdie putt on the final hole to beat Stacy Lewis by one stroke and win the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic at Ocean Club Golf Course on Paradise Island in the Bahamas.
Korda, a 20-year-old from Bradenton, Fla., birdied three of the last four holes to shoot 7-under-par 66 and overcome Lewis, No. 3 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, who also closed with a 66.
“It was incredible,” said Korda, whose only other LPGA Tour victory came in the 2012 ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open. “I could barely get the ball down so I could take a good look at the line.
“It took a whole year (to get her second victory). I was just trying to hit good golf shots and get that swing down (after making some changes). It’s huge. I’m sure my confidence will go up and hopefully I can keep it going.”
Lewis, playing one group ahead of Korda, had a chance to take the lead on the final hole, but her 15-foot birdie putt hit a spike mark and stopped one roll short of the hole.
Korda, who tied for the lead with a 12-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole, hit her approach on the par-5 finishing hole over the green and among several television cables near the grandstand.
An official and TV commentator held the cables above her head so she could putt onto the green, setting up her winning shot.
Paula Creamer of Pleasanton closed with a 69 to tie for third with Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand, who recorded a 67, 54-hole leader Na Yeon Choi of South Korea, who shot 72, and Lizette Salas of Azusa and USC, who came in at 71.
Lydia Ko, the 16-year-old from New Zealand who held the first-round lead at 68, closed with another 68 and finished in a tie for eighth in her first tournament as an LPGA Tour member.
