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Jin Young Ko led from start to finish to claim the 2021 Cognizant Founders Cup Tournament.

Ko triumphs; in company of Sorenstam

WEST CALDWELL _ The celebratory champagne rained down on Jin Young Ko shortly after her victory at the Cognizant Founders Cup. Ko, of course, didn't mind being sprayed with the sparkling white wine. After all, she was under pressure for the last four days as she sought to string together 14 consecutive rounds under 70 and pull even with Annika Sorenstam and countrywoman So Yeon Ryu as well as defend a title she claimed two years ago. Mission accomplished. "I got a lot of the pressure on the course," said Ko, who was 13-under for the tournament, recording scores of…
Young golfers, as well as a few older ones, enjoyed numerous activities on Junior Golf Day at the Cognizant Founders Cup on Saturday, Oct. 9.

Junior golf clinic hits the mark

WEST CALDWELL _ Johanny Bosch's daughter, Sara, and stepdaughter, Emily, were carefree as they spent time pitching rubber ducks and other brightly colored animals onto the tic-tac-toe board in the fan zone at the Cognizant Founders Cup. The girls, whose only previous exposure to golf was by playing the mini version, seemed deep in concentration as they attempted to hit their marks. Of course, they were having fun, too, and made sure they visited every station at Camp PING. "I was aiming and I won," said 9-year-old Emily, a fourth grader, who was complemented by volunteer Rinchen Sahni for her…
Jin Young Ko holds the lead at the Cognizant Founders Cup after three rounds.

Szokol climbs; Ko closer to record

WEST CALDWELL _ Elizabeth Szokol drove the ball with exceptional accuracy in the third round of the Cognizant Founders Cup, hitting fairway after fairway. Szokol's accuracy off the tee, along with on-target putting, vaulted her from a 22nd-place tie with eight other players into second place, right behind leader Jin Young Ko, who needs one more round in the 60s to join one of golf's elite in the record books. It was a sensational showing for Szokol, a native of Chicago, as she turned in the day's low score, a 65 on the par-71 yard course at Mountain Ridge Country…
A Lim Kim tees off on the first hole in the opening round of the Cognizant Founders Cup.

Refreshed Ko atop Founders leaderboard

WEST CALDWELL _ Jin Young Ko's streak of rounds in the 60s was extended, evidence that she's put her putting failures and the angst of a second-place finish at last week's ShopRite Classic behind her. Ko took the lead in the opening round of the Cognizant Founders Cup at Mountain Ridge Country Club on Thursday, Oct. 7 by firing a 63, sending that enviable skein to 11 and leaving her three rounds away from matching Annika Sorenstam's 2005 record for consecutive rounds in the 60s. "I was a little sad on the Sunday last week," said the 26-year-old South Korean…
Wayne native Marina Alex tees off during the U.S. Women's Open in Bedminster in 2017.

Cognizant Founders Cup is "home game" for Alex

WEST CALDWELL _ Marina Alex's professional golf career has brought her back to New Jersey several times, first for the ShopRite Classic in Galloway Township then the U.S. Open in Bedminster. Beginning today, Thursday, Oct. 7, Alex will tee off in the shadow of Wayne where she grew up when the Cognizant Founders Cup is held at Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell. "It's incredible," Alex said at a press conference on Wednesday morning. "This is the closest I've been... I mean this is a home game." It certainly is. And, Alex, in her ninth year on the LPGA…
Sammie Dolce, a sophomore at the Morris County School of Technology, shot a 36 to take top honors at the Morris County Girls Golf Tournament.

Dolce fires record 36 to claim MCT crown

FLANDERS _ For three months over the winter, Sammie Dolce took her golf game south. Dolce and her family made a few stops before reaching the home of her paternal grandparents, Michael and Kay, in Lakeland, Fla. While in the Sunshine State, Dolce, a sophomore at the Morris County School of Technology, took to a nearby course, The Club at Eaglebrooke, almost every day for three to five hours. The trip gave Dolce a headstart on the 2021 season and, on Thursday, April 29, she exhibited the talents she finetuned at the Morris County Girls Golf Tournament, firing a 36…
Lexi Thompson chips onto the 14th green after her approach shot hit a sprinklerhead during second-round play at the ShopRite Classic.

Stackhouse two strokes behind Lee6

GALLOWAY _ Mariah Stackhouse didn't engage in deep thought about what a win at the ShopRite LPGA Classic would mean. Rather than dreaming about the possibility of being the first African American woman to win a title on the tour, Stackhouse only had visions of putts traveling the green and dropping consistently. Stackhouse had another solid round on Saturday, June 8, shooting a 67 for a two-day total of 133, a mere two strokes behind Jeongeun Lee6 (63-69-132). In a three-way tie for third place behind Lee6 and Stackhouse with 134 were Ally McDonald, Lexi Thompson and Nanna Koerstz Madsen.…
Lee6 leads at ShopRite Classic

Lee6 leads at ShopRite Classic

GALLOWAY _ Fresh off her win at the U.S. Open, Jeongeun Lee6 is confident, focused, determined and well-rested. On Friday, June 7, Lee6 got right back down to business, shooting an 8-under-par 63 at the 2019 ShopRite LPGA Classic and finds herself atop the leaderboard once again after the opening round of play. Lee6 of South Korea, who had an impressive nine birdies and an eagle, was tied with Thailand's Pornanong Phatlum, whose first-round showing featured seven birdies and an eagle. Right behind them are Lexi Thompson, Muni He and Kristen Gillman, all with 64s. Relaxed and experiencing no bouts of nervousness,…
Mendham Perrin putts her way to title

Mendham Perrin putts her way to title

FLANDERS _ Lindsay Perrin was in the midst of discussing some of the highlights of her round at the Morris County Girls Golf Championship when she suddenly stopped, smiled and revealed that she had attained a "first." "My putting was pretty on today," Perrin said before adding, "I had no three putts. That's never happened before." Perrin's touch on the greens, along with accurate shots off the tee, resulted in her taking the title at the MCGGC held on Flanders Valley Blue Course on Wednesday, May 1. It wasn't easy, though, as she prevailed in a two-hold playoff versus Morris…
Park secures first LPGA victory

Park secures first LPGA victory

GALLOWAY _ Annie Park's golf career sputtered after a solid rookie season in which she had a pair of top-10 showings, including a tie for sixth place at the ShopRite Classic. Park's game suffered in 2017 because of an issue with her back and she struggled mightily. She had to alter her swing to adjust to the injury and juggled time between the Symetra and LPGA Tours. As a result, Park, of Levittown, N.Y., dropped to No. 126 on the earnings list and her LPGA status went to partial. On Sunday, June 10, the 23-year-old Park, a standout while at…
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