BRADENTON, Fla. — Yealimi Noh turned a one-shot deficit into a three-shot lead over Jin Young Ko in the span of two holes on the back nine Sunday and cruised from there to her first LPGA victory in the Founders Cup.
The 23-year-old from Northern California closed with a bogey-free, 3-under 68 for a four-day total of 21-under 263 at Bradenton Country Club, four shots better than Ko (71). Noh made her last bogey of the week on her final hole of Friday’s second round, then surged into the lead Saturday with a 63.
Noh was making her 111th career start, the first of her sixth season on tour.
“I always knew it would happen and it was a matter of time. I was like, ‘When and why isn’t it coming?’ A lot of my peers and, like, girls around my age and just coming in at the same time getting their wins, I always was like, ‘I know I can do it, but when is it coming?'” she said.
“To really get it done, and especially in the first tournament of the year, is really nice.”
She made 10 straight pars, allowing Ko to edge in front, but holed birdie putts of about 15 feet on the par-4 13th hole and 12 feet on the par-4 14th while Ko made bogey on each — her first bogeys of the week.
Noh switched to the broomstick putter last year, a move she credited with her increased self-belief.
“I was really…
