The 2024 Cognizant Founders Cup was decided in the most dramatic fashion possible, with Rose Zhang coming from behind to literally win with her last shot. Zhang was one stroke behind Madelene Sagstrom on the 16th hole, but was able to clinch her victory after birdieing four of the last five holes.
Rose Zhang trailed by three shots after the 12th hole in the final round of the Cognizant Founders Cup. The former top-ranked amateur in the world saved her best game for last, birdieing the 14th, 15th, 17th and 18th to win by one stroke as Madelene Sagstrom couldn’t make any birdies and bogeyed the 16th.
Sagstrom proved to be a great champion despite not winning at Upper Montclair Country Club in New Jersey, not only because of her five birdies and two bogeys in the final round, but also because of her words of praise for Rose Zhang’s tremendous performance in the Cognizant Founders Cup.
“Rose [Zhang] had a fantastic finish.” Sagstrom sai for the LPGA Tour news service. “I couldn’t have done too much more. I felt like I gave it my all. I can’t be disappointed, but at the same time, I am. I’ve done a lot of really good things this week and my game is in a really, really nice spot, so I will look back, and I will be very proud of it. For now, it hurts a little bit.”
World number one Nelly Korda, who had dominated the previous five tournaments she entered, endured a challenging final two days, finishing in a tie for seventh place at 7 under. The Cognizant Founders Cup is her 6th Top 10 in seven starts this season.
Another youngster who continues to surprise on the LPGA Tour is rookie Gaby Ruffels, who finished in third place of the Cognizant Founders Cup with a score of 9 under. The Australian carded four rounds with scores of par or better, including a 5-under 67 on the third day.
Rose Zhang‘s victory at the Cognizant Founders Cup was a testament to her skill and determination. The 23-year-old American carded a total score of 24 under 264, the best score in the tournament’s three-year tenure at Upper Montclair Country Club. Zhang demonstrated her ability to perform under pressure and solidified her position as a rising star in women’s golf.
The Cognizant Founders Cup marked its 13th edition this year. This prestigious event pays tribute to the 13 founding members of the LPGA Tour, established in 1950. The tournament has a rich history, with past winners including Jin Young Ko, Minjee Lee, and Anna Nordqvist. This year’s event featured a strong field, with eight of the top 10 players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
2024 Cognizant Founders Cup: Full leaderboard and money breakdown
Below is the full leaderboard and money list for the Cognizant Founders Cup, players below:
- 1 Rose Zhang -24 $450,000
- 2 Madelene Sagstrom -22 $277,738
- 3 Gabriela Ruffels -9 $201,479
- T4 Ruoning Yin -8 $127,984
- T4 Peiyun Chien -8 $127,984
- T4 Xiyu Lin -8 $127,984
- T7 Linn Grant -7 $69,492
- T7 Pajaree Anannarukarn -7 $69,492
- T7 Minjee Lee -7 $69,492
- T7 Wichanee Meechai -7 $69,492
- T7 Nelly Korda -7 $69,492
- T12 Patty Tavatanakit -6 $45,871
- T12 Leona Maguire -6 $45,871
- T12 Jin Young Ko -6 $45,871
- T12 Nasa Hataoka -6 $45,871
- T12 Anna Nordqvist -6 $45,871
- T12 Sei Young Kim -6 $45,871
- T18 Ariya Jutanugarn -5 $33,801
- T18 Jin Hee Im -5 $33,801
- T18 Jenny Shin -5 $33,801
- T18 Hannah Green -5 $33,801
- T18 Stephanie Kyriacou -5 $33,801
- T18 Perrine Delacour -5 $33,801
- T18 Nataliya Guseva -5 $33,801
- T25 Esther Henseleit -4 $27,447
- T25 Marina Alex -4 $27,447
- T25 Carlota Ciganda -4 $27,447
- T25 Yan Liu -4 $27,447
- T29 Yuka Saso -3 $22,504
- T29 Mi Hyang Lee -3 $22,504
- T29 Yealimi Noh -3 $22,504
- T29 Isi Gabsa -3 $22,504
- T29 Narin An -3 $22,504
- T29 Mao Saigo -3 $22,504
- T35 Yu Jin Sung -2 $15,966
- T35 Brooke M. Henderson -2 $15,966
- T35 Elizabeth Szokol -2 $15,966
- T35 Angel Yin -2 $15,966
- T35 Aditi Ashok -2 $15,966
- T35 Jodi Ewart Shadoff -2 $15,966
- T35 Alexandra Forsterling -2 $15,966
- T35 Sarah Kemp -2 $15,966
- T35 Lydia Ko -2 $15,966
- T35 Mary Liu -2 $15,966
- T35 Haeran Ryu -2 $15,966
- T46 Lindsey Weaver-Wright -1 $11,784
- T46 Grace Kim -1 $11,784
- T46 Roberta Liti -1 $11,784
- T46 Jennifer Kupcho -1 $11,784
- T50 Yuna Nishimura E $9,580
- T50 Cheyenne Knight E $9,580
- T50 Jing Yan E $9,580
- T50 Celine Boutier E $9,580
- T50 Georgia Hall E $9,580
- T50 Yuri Yoshida E $9,580
- T50 Andrea Lee E $9,580
- T50 Lauren Hartlage E $9,580
- 58 Ryann O’Toole 1 $8,211
- T59 Olivia Cowan 2 $7,655
- T59 Jasmine Suwannapura 2 $7,655
- T59 Moriya Jutanugarn 2 $7,655
- T62 Sofia Garcia 3 $7,222
- T62 Gaby Lopez 3 $7,222
- 64 Pernilla Lindberg 4 $6,996
- T65 Hyo Joon Jang 5 $6,691
- T65 Alexa Pano 5 $6,691
- T65 Celine Borge 5 $6,691
- T68 Maria Fassi 6 $6,310
- T68 Auston Kim 6 $6,310
- 70 Matilda Castren 7 $6,083
- 71 Mel Reid 8 $6,008
- 72 Jeongeun Lee5 9 $5,929