Novak teams with Coughlin to win Grant Thornton and pick up another team title
Andrew Novak and Lauren Coughlin secured a commanding three-shot victory at the Grant Thornton Invitational in Naples, Florida. Their stellar performance included three consecutive birdies on the back nine, propelling them to a 9-under 63 in modified fourballs.
The duo faced stiff competition from Chris Gotterup and Jennifer Kupcho, who kept pace until the pivotal par-5 17th hole. Gotterup and Kupcho struggled to save par after missing the green, while Novak and Coughlin capitalized on the opportunity. Novak’s clutch birdie putt on the 17th gave them a two-shot lead heading into the final hole, ultimately setting a tournament record at 28-under 188.
Their nearest challengers, including Gotterup and Kupcho, Denny McCarthy and Nelly Korda, and Michael Brennan and Charley Hull, finished three shots behind the champions. Novak, who previously won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans with Ben Griffin, humorously referred to the mixed-team victory as the “modern-day grand slam” of team events on the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour.
Reflecting on their strategy, Novak emphasized the advantage of having more birdie opportunities down the stretch. He executed crucial putts on the 13th, 14th, and 15th greens, with the 17th hole serving as the clincher. In the modified fourballs format, both players hit tee shots before playing the other’s ball for the remainder of the hole, with the lower score counting towards the team total.
Novak and Coughlin each earned $500,000 for their victory, marking a significant milestone for Coughlin, who had previously won twice on the LPGA Tour. Despite narrowly missing out on a second-place finish, Korda now looks forward to teaming up with her father in the upcoming PNC Championship.
The Grant Thornton Invitational showcased the competitive spirit and skill of the participating teams, with Novak and Coughlin emerging as worthy champions. For more golf news and updates, visit the AP Golf hub at https://apnews.com/hub/golf.
