Madelene Sagstrom and Lauren Coughlin will faceoff in the Championship Match at Shadow Creek. Both dazzled with remarkable performances in the semifinals, displaying extreme mastery of their craft. Sagstrom, who is 67th in the world, took out 12th-ranked Yina in a dramatic quarterfinal match. Coughlin, who was placed 17th overall, advanced to the championship final with a tight 1-up win over fellow American, Ariya Jutanugarn.
Sagstrom’s semifinal victory was striking. She went on to beat Yin, who currently resides in Charlottesville, Virginia, and was the highest-seeded player remaining in the semis. Yin, who has two career wins under her belt, both of them coming last year, was a dangerous threat. Sagstrom sealed her victory with a birdie on the par-4 19th hole, a fitting rendition of closing out your opponent.
Celine Boutier and Ashleigh Buhai fought tooth and nail in a brutal fight stretching past 28 holes. After an electrifying back-and-forth battle, Boutier was in the winner’s circle. This result guarantees that we’ll have no repeat champion in this five-year-old summer bash.
En route to the final, Coughlin’s path was characterized by redemption. Hers would be a greater comeback, as she staged a fight back over the final two holes having been one behind Jutanugarn. Coughlin couldn’t have had a more appropriate finish – rallying and taking her shot when Jutanugarn faltered. She clinched the match victory by playing the 17th and 18th holes in 3-over par, earning a 1-up victory.
In reflecting on her performance, Coughlin reflected on how pleased she was with her game.
“I’ve been lucky that 17 has been a really good number for me all week,” – Lauren Coughlin.
For Sagstrom, this final will be her third straight once again an opportunity to claim her second tournament victory. The 32-year-old last won in 2020 at the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio. Looking back on her match in the semifinal and what’s to come in the final, she said it’s really about being prepared.
“I think I’ve just started to get into a groove and just get really focused there towards the end. Everything seemed to go my way there at the end.” – Lauren Coughlin.
One of these two players is going to come away with $9 million at the final showdown at Shadow Creek. Fans should get ready for a thrilling game full of playoff intensity and rivalry! Sagstrom aims to add another title to her name, while Coughlin seeks her first victory since winning the Scottish Open in August. Whatever happens to the rest of this year’s tournament, the stage is set for an incredible ending.
“You never know. This morning I definitely felt like I was awake. I had already warmed up. I was ready to go out again, so I probably think it was a little bit of an advantage.” – Madelene Sagstrom.
As both players gear up for the final showdown at Shadow Creek, spectators can expect an exciting match filled with high stakes and competitive spirit. Sagstrom aims to add another title to her name, while Coughlin seeks her first victory since winning the Scottish Open in August. The stage is set for a remarkable conclusion to this year’s tournament.
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