[서울=뉴스핌] Reporter Kim Yong-seok = Sisters Koda set a record of reaching the top of the LPGA for two consecutive weeks.
Nelly Coda (US 23) scored 3 under par 69 in the 4th round of the LPGA Tour Gainbridge LPGA (total prize money of $2 million) held at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club (par 72) in Orlando, Florida, USA on the 1st (Korean time). The record, final total of 16 under par 272 strokes, beat Lexy Thompson (USA) and Lydia Go (New Zealand, above 13 under par 275 strokes) by three strokes.
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| Nelly Coda won the championship. [사진= LPGA투어] |
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| Jessica Coda, her older sister who won the opening game.[사진= 로이터 뉴스핌] |
As a result, her sister Jessica Coda (28) won the Diamond Resort Tournament of Championship, which was held in the opening game of the 2021 season in January, followed by her sister’s victory in the second tournament. The record of’Sisters Winning Consecutive Competitions’ on the LPGA Tour was a record 21 years after Anika and Charlotte Sorenstam won the Welch’s Circle K Championship and the Ping Register Championship in 2000.
This is the first time that Nelly Coda, who has won the Taiwan Swinging Skirts LPGA win in November 2019, has won a U.S. tournament with 4 wins on the PGA Tour in about 1 year and 4 months. The winning prize is 300,000 dollars (about 330 million won).
After the championship, Jessica Coda and Nelly Coda were delighted that it was the first time to win in front of parents.
The Koda family is also from a famous sports star.
His father, Petr Koda (Czech Republic), was a tennis star who won the Australian Open in 1998 after winning runner-up in the 1992 French Open. His wife, Regina Coda, was also an outstanding player who climbed to 26th in the world tennis rankings. His younger brother Sebastian Coda reached the top of the Australian Open junior singles two years ago. Tennis prospect Sebastian Coda’s ATP tennis ranking is 92nd.
Ko Jin-young, who participated in the first tournament of the season through this tournament, finished with 4th place alone.
In the final 4th round, Ko Jin-young, who combined 4 birdies and 3 bogies, hit 1 under par 71 and wrote a final total of 11 under par 277. The fairway landing rate was 71.4% and the green hit rate was 77.8%.
In an official interview with the LPGA Tour, Ko Jin-young said, “I had a lot of buddy opportunities, but I missed a lot and only hit 1 under par today. I think it’s okay because it’s my first tournament.”
Ko Jin-young, who played with Lydiago, said, “(Lydiago) Bokyung always hit a lot, and my parents have a close relationship with each other because it’s the same last name. Every time I play together, Lydiago plays well, so I think I’m old, but I’m learning more.” He said.
Lydia Go (New Zealand) and Lexy Thompson (USA) scored a tie for second place (13 under par 275 strokes).
Jeon In-ji (27), Choi Un-jeong (31), and Shin Ji-eun (29) were tied for 8th place (8 under par 280 strokes).
Kim Se-young (28), who was ‘2nd in the world’, wrote down the daily best score of 66 strokes at 6 under par, and ended the competition in a tie for 24th with a final total of 4 under par 284 strokes.
‘Golf Legend’ Anika Sorenstam (Sweden), who participated in the regular tournament after 13 years, finished the tournament with a final total of 13 over par, 301 strokes, in the lowest place, 74th place.
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| Female legend Anika Sorenstam also finished the game and received applause. [사진= LPGA 투어] |