By Todd Kelly- Golfweek
It was a star-studded affair at The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican.
It has also been a pressure-packed week for those battling for a spot in the 60-player CME Group Tour Championship as well as their status for next season.
Through three rounds, Charley Hull was at 12 under and a shot ahead of the field. Weiwei Zhang and Nelly Korda were a shot back with Jin Hee Im and Wichanee Meechai two back at 9 under.
The final group Sunday featured Hull and Korda playing alongside each other once again. Early, Linn Grant and Rose Zhang joined the fun, each getting to double digits under par along with Minami Katsu.
The Annika: Leaderboard | Photos
Hull, however, plodded along through the front nine with three birdies offset by three bogeys. That allowed Meechai to join her atop the leaderboard at 11 under. Korda also went the wrong way, shooting 2 over on his first nine holes.
Charley Hull f England and Nelly Korda of the United States prepare to play the first hole during the final round of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican 2024 at Pelican Golf Club on November 17, 2024 in Belleair, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
On the 11th hole, Korda made birdie to get to 11 under and she was tied with Hull, the two headliners alone at the top down the stretch. Another birdie on 12 and Korda edged ahead of the field by a shot. On 15, Korda drained her fifth straight birdie to get to 14 under, good for a two-shot lead.
From there, she went on to win by three shots at 14 under to record her seventh victory on the LPGA in 2024 and 15th time in her career.
“There’s nothing like being in the hunt,” Korda told Golf Channel’s Karen Stupples moments after the win.
Korda has a chance to match Lorena Ochoa’s 2007 season with eight wins at the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship next week.
For Hull it was her fifth runner-up finish on the LPGA since last winning on the tour. Weiwei Zhang also tie for second and that clinched her tour card for 2025. Jin Hee Im also tied for second.
For the win, Korda earned $487,500 and went over the $4 million mark in earnings this season and $13 million for her career.
By Roy J. Akers- www.skyviewsports.net
It did not take long for Charley Hull’s lead to evaporate with three bogeys and two birdies to start her day. The three way tie for the lead with Nelly Korda and Wichanee Meechai added drama for the ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge. Things quickly went awry for Hull but she regrouped and finished in a three way tie for second. For Nelly Korda, she is the LPGA POY and walks away with this win.
Leaders- Final Day – Complete Leaderboard
