GALLOWAY, N.J. — In a gripping conclusion to the ShopRite LPGA Classic, Jennifer Kupcho emerged victorious, clinching her first win in nearly three years. Under inclement weather conditions, Kupcho sunk an 8-foot birdie putt on the final hole to outpace Ilhee Lee. This latest victory adds to her impressive record of four LPGA Tour titles, including a significant win at the Chevron Championship. Demonstrating strong play, Kupcho birdied three of the last five holes, ending with a 5-under 66.
She managed to seize the lead with a 20-foot birdie from just off the green at the 14th hole and avoided a potential playoff with her decisive 18th-hole putt. The competition was tight, with Lee leading by the end of the second round on a rain-laden Bay Course at Seaview Hotel. The course was so soaked that the par-3 17th hole had to be adjusted to play just 76 yards.
Despite early struggles with two bogeys and a score of 39 on the front nine, Lee rebounded strongly on the back nine. The South Korean golfer notched five birdies, including ones on the last two holes, posting a 68. However, the late momentum wasn’t enough to overtake Kupcho, who was focused and determined. Finishing at 15-under 198, Kupcho excelled in one of the select 54-hole LPGA events.
Reflecting on her performance, Kupcho expressed her satisfaction, explaining that she maintained her focus by aiming for a target score of 14 under. Her actual finishing score exceeded her expectations. “I really just wasn’t thinking about anything else,” she said. “I think in my mind I had set on 14 under, so I was really just trying to get to that number. Obviously did a little better.”
For Lee, this represents a return to competitive form. The 36-year-old last won an LPGA title 12 years ago amid challenging conditions in the Bahamas. Over the past seven years, Lee played sporadically, concentrating instead on completing her college degree and briefly working in the finance sector. With a renewed passion for golf, she shifted gears to become a part-time golf instructor. Thanks to her status as a past tournament winner, Lee entered the field, ranking 1,426 in the women’s world ranking.
Her journey back to competitive golf highlighted her love for the game. “I worked for Financial Forum for 100 days and then got out,” Lee explained. “Then I realize, ‘Oh, I’m good at golf.’… I absolutely loved it.” She balanced teaching with playing and sought treatment for physical setbacks. Her students in LA eagerly await her return.
For Kupcho, this win is particularly gratifying, breaking a drought following a trio of victories in 2022. “It just feels amazing,” Kupcho said. “I think I struggled a lot early in the year and it feels good.” Her approach in this tournament was buoyed by lessons from her participation in the U.S. Women’s Open, despite not advancing. “Me and the U.S. Open sometimes just don’t get along. I think I just carried my ball striking into this week,” she remarked. Demonstrating precision, Kupcho’s ball-striking ability and successful putting were key to her win.
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