Propelled by a streak of four consecutive birdies, American Jason Kokrak finally emerged victorious from a heated fight to win the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Open on Sunday in Houston.
Kokrak cut a par from the 13th to 16th hole, finally handing a 65 (-5) card that allowed him to show a final performance of 270 (-10). He was the most effective golfer in a group of 13 who were three strokes or less from the lead after three rounds.
Kokrak has therefore won a first PGA tournament this season and a third in his career after his two triumphs in 2021. He beat his compatriots Kevin Tway (68) and Scottie Scheffler (69) by two strokes.
American hegemony has also been felt in this competition since the 11 best competitors, then 17 of the best 18, come from the country of Uncle Sam.
Mackenzie Hughes (71) was the best Canadian in this tournament finishing 29th at 280 (N). The only other representative of the Maple Leaf to take part in the weekend’s rounds, Nick Taylor (68) finished the race in the 41st place with a cumulative score of 292 (+2).
Korda bends, but holds up
In the LPGA, American Nelly Korda was the only of four finalists to score a birdie on the first hole of overtime, which saw her win the Pelican Championship in Belleair, Fla.
Korda could have won more quickly, however, since she committed an expensive triple bugy on the 17th pennant. A birdie moments later, however, brought him back on a par with Lexi Thompson (69), Lydia Ko (66) and Sei Young Kim (67). All four players were 263 (-17) after 72 holes.
Korda has thus signed a fourth victory this season and a seventh in his career.
Canada’s Brooke M. Henderson was the top contender excluded from overtime in this tournament. His last effort of 65 strokes allowed him to take only fourth position in the final standings with a record of 266 (-14). Also in contention, Alena Sharp (69) is 52nd at 277 (-3).
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