The energy at Bradenton Country Club this past February was something else. If you were following the LPGA Founders Cup 2025 leaderboard, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It wasn't just another tournament. It felt like a shift.
Honestly, everyone expected the hometown hero Nelly Korda to just run away with it. She lives right there in Bradenton. She won the Drive On Championship on this exact course last year. But golf is funny that way. It rarely gives you the script you expect. Instead, we got a "two-horse race" that turned into a masterclass by Yealimi Noh.
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Noh didn't just win; she basically dismantled a field of giants.
The Final LPGA Founders Cup 2025 Leaderboard Standings
Let's look at how the top of the board actually shook out. It was a week where the scores were incredibly low, but by Sunday, the gap between first and the rest of the pack was pretty staggering.
1. Yealimi Noh: -21 (263)
After years of coming close and dealing with some heavy struggles, Noh finally crossed the finish line. She posted rounds of 68-64-63-68. That Saturday 63 was really the "statement" round that put the field on notice.
2. Jin Young Ko: -17 (267)
The former World No. 1 and three-time Founders Cup winner was the only one who really kept Noh looking over her shoulder. She was bogey-free for an insane 95 holes—a streak that started the week prior—before finally slipping up on the 13th hole on Sunday.
3. Megan Khang: -16 (268)
Khang is always a threat, but her third-round 62 was the round of the tournament. It was a career-low for her. If a couple more putts had dropped on Sunday, we might have had a different story, but she finished solo third.
T4. Hannah Green: -13 (271)
T4. Miyu Yamashita: -13 (271)
T4. Jin Hee Im: -13 (271)
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It’s wild to see players finish at 13-under par and still be eight shots back from the lead. That tells you everything you need to know about the heater Yealimi Noh was on.
Why This Win Was Different
Yealimi Noh has been a "name" in golf for a while. People have been waiting for this. Since she turned pro, the talent was obvious, but the consistency... well, that’s the hard part, isn't it? She admitted on the 18th green that the last few years were a struggle.
Seeing her hold off Jin Young Ko—one of the most clinical closers in the history of the game—was a huge "I've arrived" moment. Ko actually took the lead on the 8th hole on Sunday. Usually, when Ko takes the lead on a Sunday, it’s game over for everyone else.
But Noh didn't blink.
She birdied 13 and 14 while Ko stumbled with back-to-back bogeys. Suddenly, a tight battle turned into a three-shot lead with four to play. Noh just parred her way home. Easy. Stress-free. Sorta.
The Bradenton Factor
Moving the Founders Cup to Bradenton Country Club was a smart move by the LPGA. The course played at about 6,516 yards (par 71), and while it allowed for those deep red scores, it also punished "almost" shots.
The wind was a factor all week. You could see players like Nelly Korda—who eventually finished tied for 48th at 1-under—struggling to judge the crosswinds on those uphill approaches. It’s a reminder that even the best in the world can have an "off" week when the course doesn't fit their eye exactly right.
Also, we have to talk about the 75th Anniversary vibes. The Founders Cup is meant to honor the 13 women who started this whole thing back in 1950. Having the first full-field event of the 75th season end with a first-time winner like Noh felt... right. It’s about the next generation taking the torch.
What This Means for the Rest of 2025
If you're a betting person, you've gotta keep an eye on Noh for the majors this year. Winning the LPGA Founders Cup 2025 is one thing, but the way she did it—beating a Hall of Famer in a head-to-head Sunday battle—changes her ceiling.
Jin Young Ko, despite the loss, looks dangerous. Her distances are up, she's working out more, and that 95-hole bogey-free streak is just terrifying for the rest of the tour.
What to watch for next:
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- Yealimi Noh’s Momentum: Can she back this up in the Asian swing? She mentioned 2025 being "her year," and she's certainly started it that way.
- The Hall of Fame Race: Jin Young Ko is already in, but she's playing like she has something to prove.
- The Rookies: Keep an eye on the Epson Tour graduates. Players like Ingrid Lindblad and Fatima Fernandez Cano got their first real taste of a full-field LPGA event this week. The learning curve is steep, but the talent is there.
The tour now heads to Thailand, and if the leaderboard at Bradenton was any indication, the scoring is only going to get lower.
If you want to play like the pros you saw on the leaderboard this week, start by focusing on your "miss." Yealimi Noh won because her misses were small, and her recovery on the 13th was the turning point. Work on your wedge play from 40-60 yards; that's where the Founders Cup was actually won this year.
Actionable Insight: To track these players through the spring, download the LPGA app and set notifications for the "Lead Change" alerts. With the way the 2025 season has started, the top spot on the leaderboard is going to be a revolving door of world-class talent. Keep a close watch on the Rolex First-Time Winner category—Noh won't be the last one we see this season.