Madelene Sagstrom of Sweden lines up a putt on the 18th green during the third round of the Cognizant Founders Cup at Upper Montclair Country Club on May 11, 2024 in Clifton, New Jersey.Elsa/Getty Images
The Nelly Korda streak now appears unlikely to continue, as Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom and Rose Zhang pulled well clear of the field Saturday at the Cognizant Founders Cup.
Korda is seeking a record sixth consecutive victory in an LPGA Tour event, but a 1-over 73 at Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton, N.J., put her 11 strokes behind Sagstrom after three rounds. Sagstrom is 19 under par.
Zhang shot 67 Saturday and is one shot back of Sagstrom, who carded a 66.
Sagstrom gained momentum with three consecutive birdies on Nos. 7-9 and finished her bogey-free round with six birdies.
Playing with Zhang helped her on her strong round.
“She was hitting good shots and I was hitting good shots,” Sagstrom said. “She was hitting good putts and I was hitting good putts. It’s nice playing with people that are playing well ... It was overall a very steady round. Very happy with how I’m playing. (I'm) in a good spot for tomorrow.”
Zhang, who collected her first LPGA Tour victory in Jersey City, N.J., a year ago, overcame a pair of bogeys with seven birdies and agreed her playing partner made things better.
“It was honestly incredible,” Zhang said. “I was just seeing a clinic put on by Madelene. We had a good time.”
Korda, who began the day alone in third place, four shots back of both Sagstrom and Zhang, is still in a tie for third but has much more of a challenge facing her Sunday.
“(Friday) was good in everything and today was poor in everything,” Korda said, “so that’s just pretty much golf for you.
“(I) just made too many kind of stupid, silly mistakes, which was unfortunate because they were playing so well. So now there is just a massive gap.”
South Korea’s Sei Young Kim and Australian Gabriela Ruffels joined Korda at 8 under after identical rounds of 67.
Korda entered the weekend aiming to break the LPGA record. She shares the record streak of five consecutive wins with Annika Sorenstam and Nancy Lopez.