Our Clients:

Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

May 13, 2022 9:03 pm

Minjee Lee takes 3-shot lead at Cognizant Founders Cup

Minjee Lee of Australia went low with a 9-under 63 Friday to take the 36-hole lead at the Cognizant Founders Cup in Clifton, N.J.

Lee’s round featured eight birdies, an eagle and just one bogey. It helped her build a three-shot advantage over Ally Ewing, Lexi Thompson and Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom, who enter the weekend tied for second at 11 under.

Lee holed a lengthy putt to eagle the par-5 12th at Upper Montclair Country Club. She was on track for a career-low 62 before her lone bogey at No. 16 brought her back a shot.

“I go pretty much shot by shot and not get too far ahead of myself,” Lee said. “When I had a putt I tried to hole it. When I had a shot I tried to hit it close.”

Lee is searching for her first win on the LPGA Tour since the Evian Championship — her first major title — last July.

Sagstrom led after the first round thanks to her own 63 Thursday, but starting on the back nine Friday, she was 2 over par for her round through five holes. She recovered with a birdie at No. 18 and three more on the front to shoot a 2-under 70.

“I was talking to (caddie Shane Codd) and I think I was trying a bit too hard,” Sagstrom said. “Trying to find the same momentum I had yesterday and it just wasn’t there, so I think I kind of just had to calm myself down.”

Thompson shot a bogey-free 66, and Ewing matched the 66 with seven birdies and just one bogey. Thompson was glad to improve her showing on the back nine from a 1-over 37 Thursday to a 3-under 33 Friday.

“My front nine was definitely a little sketchy (Thursday). Wasn’t my best ball striking,” Thompson said. “Just felt a little bit out of it. But I just tried to scratch that going into the turn. … Let’s just start scratch and let’s just fire away at the pins and commit to my shots. That’s all I can do.”

New Jersey was also the setting for Thompson’s last victory on tour — the 2019 ShopRite LPGA Classic.

Finland’s Sanna Nuutinen shot a 4-under 68 to take sole possession of fifth place at 9 under. Paula Reto of South Africa (67), Carlota Ciganda of Spain (69) and Megan Khang (72) were tied for sixth at 8 under.

Eighty players made the cut of 1 under or better, including defending champion and world No. 1 Jin Young Ko of South Korea (5 under). Sixteen-year-old amateur Anna Davis shot a second straight 70 to make the cut at 4 under, her second made cut in as many starts on tour.

–Field Level Media

You may also like

chan kim
Jul 11, 2025 7:55 pm

Another eagle helps Chan Kim expand ISCO Championship lead to 5

Chan Kim used a late eagle to right the ship and finish the second round with a five-shot lead at the ISCO Championship on Friday in Louisville, Ky. Kim opened…

Charley Hull
Jul 11, 2025 7:25 pm

Charley Hull ‘feeling a lot better’ day after collapse at Evian

England’s Charley Hull said she was feeling better Friday, one day after twice collapsing to the ground during the first round of the Amundi Evian Championship in France. After the…

steve allan
Jul 11, 2025 6:48 pm

Steve Allan out in front at Dick’s Open after white-hot start

Steve Allan of Australia rode a red-hot start to a 9-under-par 63 to set the early pace at the Dick’s Open on Friday in Endicott, N.Y. Allan was 7 under…

More Golf News

chan kim
Jul 11, 2025 7:55 pm

Another eagle helps Chan Kim expand ISCO Championship lead to 5

Chan Kim used a late eagle to right the ship and finish the second round with a five-shot lead at the ISCO Championship on Friday in Louisville, Ky. Kim opened…

Charley Hull
Jul 11, 2025 7:25 pm

Charley Hull ‘feeling a lot better’ day after collapse at Evian

steve allan
Jul 11, 2025 6:48 pm

Steve Allan out in front at Dick’s Open after white-hot start

Cameron Smith
Jul 11, 2025 3:11 pm

High winds lead to ‘frustrating day’ at LIV Golf Andalucia

Chris Gotterup
Jul 11, 2025 2:48 pm

Chris Gotterup ties course record, moves into lead at Scottish Open

Read all
fb-post
advertisment
title-icon

Upcoming events

See all odds
[gs-fb-comments]