US Women's Open frontrunner Saigo extends lead by three strokes at Chevron Championship
In a stunning display of resilience, Japan's Nanna Koerstz Madsen clinched her first major title at the Chevron Championship, held at Erin Hills. Madsen finished the two-day event with a impressive score of 136, thanks to a remarkable five-under-par 67 in the second round.
Madsen, the 2024 LPGA Rookie of the Year, proved her mettle with a gritty performance that saw her overcome a stroke of bad luck at the par-five 14th hole. A wayward third shot struck the flagstick and bounced back into a bunker, denying her a birdie and resulting in her only bogey of the day. However, she quickly shook off the setback, reaffirming her mental strength and focus.
Madsen was not the only contender vying for the prestigious trophy. A group of six players, including Nelly Korda, finished just one stroke behind Madsen with a score of 139. Korda, who posted a career-best round of five-under at a US Open, expressed her satisfaction with her position heading into the weekend.
Korda struggled initially, managing only one birdie and one bogey in her even-par first round. However, she found her form in the second round, carding seven birdies for a sparkling five-under 67. Korda acknowledged that she had been hitting excellent putts earlier but they refused to drop. She hoped to maintain her momentum over the weekend.
The leaderboard featured a cluster of talented golfers. Korda was tied with Japan's Hinako Shibuno, Americans Yealimi Noh and Sarah Schmelzel, South Korean Kim A-lim, and Sweden's Maja Stark. Kim, the 2020 US Open champion, recovered from an early bogey to reach six-under with birdies at the seventh, eighth, and 14th holes. However, a disappointing bogey at the 18th hole marred her otherwise impressive round.
Schmelzel was also in contention, having reached six-under with five birdies in her first seven holes. However, a late bogey left her with a score of 68. Former British Open champion Shibuno was six-under through 17 holes but bogeyed the last for a 69. Noh and Stark also had respectable rounds, both finishing with scores of 69.
The demanding Erin Hills layout claimed some casualties, with world number two Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand and defending champion Yuka Saso struggling to maintain their pace. Both players were well outside the projected cut line of even par when darkness halted play with a dozen players still on the course.
Despite the challenges, the 2025 Chevron Championship promised an exciting weekend of golf, with Madsen taking a narrow lead. The battle for the major trophy was far from over.
In the face of competition from Nelly Korda and other golfers like Hinako Shibuno, Yealimi Noh, Sarah Schmelzel, Kim A-lim, and Maja Stark, Madsen maintained her lead in the Chevron Championship, showcasing her skills on the golf course. Korda, who excels in golf and demonstrated her prowess with five-under at a US Open, also displayed promising form, playing golf similar to Madsen with a five-under 67 in the second round.
