Birdie blitz helps Korda overhaul Hull to win Annika title

The Annika, Florida – final leaderboard

-14 N Korda (US); -11 C Hull (Eng), J-H Im (Kor), W Zhang (Chn); -10 L Grant (Sco), R Zhang (US)

Selected others

-8 C Boutier (Fra), -6 L Ko (NZ), +2 G Hall (Eng), +4 G Dryburgh (Sco)

American Nelly Korda overhauled England’s Charley Hull on the back nine to win her third LPGA Annika title.

The world number one started the final day one shot behind Hull, who had led from Thursday’s opening round at the event, which is named in honour of Sweden’s 10-time major champion Annika Sorenstam.

But Korda had five birdies in a row from the 11th to move two strokes ahead of her rival with three holes to play at Pelican Golf Club in Florida.

The 26-year-old held her nerve to par the last three holes and finish with a round of 67 and a total of 14 under.

A dropped shot by Hull, who had been chasing back-to-back titles, on the 17th hole saw her drop out of contention and she finished with a 71 and a share of second on 11 under alongside China’s Weiwei Zhang and Korea’s Jin Hee Im.

It was a seventh title of the year for Korda, who had been out of action since September with a neck problem.

She made a slow start with three bogeys on her front nine but once her birdie run started, her rivals were unable to respond.

“After taking time off for an injury it feels great to be back,” said Korda. “You should have felt the nerves I was feeling on the back nine.

“There’s nothing like being in the hunt. There’s nothing like the adrenaline feeling on the back nine and being in contention and I love it so much.”