Andrew Novak and Lauren Coughlin clinched the Grant Thornton Invitational title with a record-breaking performance on the back nine.
Thanks to a string of late birdies, Andrew Novak and Lauren Coughlin emerged victorious at the Grant Thornton Invitational, a mixed-team event co-sanctioned by the LPGA and PGA Tour. The duo carded a 9-under-par round in the Modified Four-Ball format on Sunday, finishing three shots ahead of the field and setting a new tournament record with an overall score of 28-under-par.
Late Birdie Surge Secures Victory
Despite their record-setting performance, the outcome was far from certain until the final holes. Chris Gotterup and Jennifer Kupcho kept the pressure on with a stellar round that brought them within one stroke of the leaders. However, trouble on the 17th hole saw both miss the green in tough spots, forcing them to scramble for par. Playing in the final group, Novak drained a clutch 6-foot birdie putt on the same hole to extend their lead to two strokes heading into the 18th. Coughlin then sealed the win with a birdie of her own, pushing their total to a record 28-under-par.
Reflecting on the tense finish, Novak admitted he only realized how close the leaderboard was when he reached the 13th green. “We had more holes than everyone else,” he said, referring to the birdie opportunities still ahead. Novak capitalized with a 7-foot birdie on 13, followed by two 10-footers on 14 and 15, and the decisive putt on 17.
Novak’s Team Event Success Continues
This marks Novak’s second team title of the year, having also won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans alongside Ben Griffin — the PGA TOUR’s only other team event. Jokingly, Novak referred to his latest win as part of a “modern Grand Slam” in mixed-team golf, highlighting the unique format that pairs PGA TOUR and LPGA players.
Both Novak and Coughlin earned $500,000 for the win, the largest payday of Coughlin’s career. The LPGA pro had already claimed two victories on tour last year, and this mixed-team triumph adds another milestone to her growing resume.