Yealimi Noh Claims First LPGA Victory with Dominant Finish at Founders Cup
Yealimi Noh secured her first LPGA Tour victory at the Founders Cup with a commanding performance at Bradenton Country Club, closing out the tournament with a bogey-free 3-under 68 on Sunday. Her four-day total of 21-under 263 placed her four shots ahead of runner-up Jin Young Ko.
Noh, 23, made a crucial move on the back nine, erasing a one-shot deficit and building a three-shot lead over Ko within just two holes. Key birdie putts on the 13th and 14th holes, combined with Ko’s first bogeys of the week, gave Noh full control of the leaderboard. From there, she maintained her composure and cruised to victory.
Starting her sixth season on tour, Noh had come close to victory in the past but had yet to break through. She made 10 consecutive pars before her back-nine surge, showing the patience and consistency that had earned her a spot on the 2021 Solheim Cup team. Her strong 2024 season, in which she made 21 cuts in 25 starts, set the foundation for her breakthrough performance.
Ko, a 15-time LPGA winner, finished with a final-round 71 and was more focused on her streak of 95 bogey-free holes than the tournament result. Megan Khang placed third after a closing 68, while Miyu Yamashita, Hannah Green, and Jin Hee Im tied for fourth at 13 under.
Defending champion and world No. 1 Nelly Korda, who won at Bradenton Country Club last year, finished nine shots back after a final-round 71.
With this victory, Noh establishes herself as a serious contender for the season ahead, setting the tone with a confident and disciplined performance in the LPGA’s first event of the year.