A flurry of first-time winners dominated the early part of the 2022 LPGA Tour season. Four of the first seven events on the schedule were won by players seeking their first victory on Tour.
Midway through the season, Leona Maguire, Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Atthaya Thitikul, and Jennifer Kupcho have become Rolex First-Time Winners and will be recognized at the Rolex LPGA Awards during the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Fla.
Leona Maguire - LPGA Drive On Championship
A year removed from her rookie stint on the LPGA Tour, Ireland’s Leona Maguire made history with her victory in Fort Myers, Florida with her win at the LPGA Drive On Championship. Maguire won the 54-hole event to become a Rolex First-Time Winner and the first from Ireland to win on the LPGA Tour. Maguire carded rounds of 66-65-67 to finish three strokes clear of Lexi Thompson.
Nanna Koerstz Madsen - Honda LPGA Thailand
After years struggling to manage her emotions on the golf course, Nanna Koerstz Madsen calmly cruised to her first victory on the LPGA Tour at the Honda LPGA Thailand. Koerstz Madsen defeated Xiyu Lin with an eagle on the second playoff hole to capture her maiden win. Koerstz Madsen and Lin finished at 26-under par to set a new 72-hole tournament scoring record.
Atthaya Thitikul - JTBC Classic presented by Barbasol
Rookie Atthaya Thitikul surprised no one by earning her breakthrough win on the LPGA Tour at the JTBC Classic in what was only her fifth start since becoming a member. Thitikul holds the record as the youngest player, male or female, to win a professional golf tournament at the age of 14. Thitikul defeated Koerstz Madsen, who won the week prior, on the second playoff hole to become a Rolex First-Time Winner.
Jennifer Kupcho - Chevron Championship
With a six-stroke lead heading into the final round at Mission Hills Country Club, Jennifer Kupcho took control of the Chevron Championship and never looked back. Kupcho finished two strokes ahead of Jessica Korda to become a Rolex First-Time Winner and capture not just her first victory on Tour but also her first major title. Kupcho’s win came three years to the week after winning the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur. She would capture her second career victory in June at the Meijer LPGA Championship for Simply Give.
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