Andrew Novak made three straight birdies on the back nine and Lauren Coughlin finished off their 9-under 63 in Modified Four-ball for a three-shot victory Sunday in the Grant Thornton Invitational, the second team title this year for Novak.
They were challenged primarily by Chris Gotterup and Jennifer Kupcho until the par-5 17th at Tiburon Golf Club.
Gotterup and Kupcho both missed the green and worked hard for par. Novak and Coughlin were in the final group behind them, and Novak rolled in a six-foot birdie putt that gave them a two-shot lead going into the final hole.
Coughlin’s birdie putt on 18 helped them set a tournament record at 28-under 188. Novak and Coughlin each earned $500,000. It was the largest payoff for Coughlin, who won twice on the LPGA last year.
Three teams tied for second place: Korda/McCarthy, Hull/Brennan, and Kupcho/Gotterup.
The team of Lottie Woad and Luke Clanton from Florida State in their team debut finished tied for 7th.
Korda missed a 10-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole that would have given her and McCarthy second place alone. Korda will get one more chance at winning this year, teaming with her father next week in the PNC Championship.
Golf will be played again in the Olympics at the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Games, where it will feature the traditional men’s and women’s individual events plus a new mixed-team format.
“I think it’s great visibility for the LPGA to be able to partner with the PGA Tour and to get to play with some of the best players in the world on the men’s side,” said 33-year-old Coughlin, who made her Solheim Cup debut last year.
The 2025 PNC Championship is scheduled this week (December 18 – 21, 2025) at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Florida, featuring Major Champions teaming up with family members in a scramble format for bragging rights and a significant purse, with Bernhard Langer and sons, Annika Sorenstam, Nelly Korda, Fred Couples, and debutant Gary Woodland among confirmed stars, though Tiger Woods and Charlie won’t be playing as Tiger recovers from surgery. Tickets are still available: www.pnchampionship.com/tickets/
