Clifton, NJ—–Heading into the final round of the Cognizant Founders Cup, Madelene Sagstrom leads at 19-under, just one shot ahead of Rose Zhang at 18-under. Both players showcased exceptional performance on Moving Day, dominating Upper Montclair Country Club with consecutive rounds in the 60s. Sagstrom and Zhang are comfortably ahead of their competitors, with Sagstrom at 11 shots and Zhang at 10 shots ahead of the next player at 8-under.
Sagstrom’s round saw a quick birdie on the second hole, followed by a string of pars before gaining momentum with three consecutive birdies on the front nine. She maintained her steady play, finishing with a total of six birdies and no bogeys for the day, expressing confidence in her putting and overall game. If she secures the win, Sagstrom would mark her second career victory and potentially become the first Swede to win on Tour since Linn Grant in 2023.
“I thought I was going to make everything today. I looked at everything, oh, this is going in, oh, this is going in,” said Sagstrom, who did not have any bogeys on Saturday and recorded her fourth bogey-free round since the start of 2024.
“I felt like there was a lot of movement in my body when they were hitting the edges. I felt so in sync with my speed. It’s been great, so everything looked like they were going in, burning edged all day long. It’s a nice feeling knowing wherever I am on the green, I have a chance to make birdie, which relaxes the rest of the game a little bit. Shane was like, we just need to hit the green, and I can figure it out from there.
Meanwhile, Zhang, after briefly taking the solo lead early in the round, remained within striking distance throughout, showcasing resilience and confidence in her game. With impressive stats including the most birdies and the fewest putts over the last three rounds, Zhang aims for her second career victory on Tour, building on her successful transition from amateur to professional.
Both players, significantly ahead of the rest of the field, gear up for an exciting final round battle. Tee times start early in the morning, with the final group of Sagstrom and Zhang teeing off in the afternoon.
Fans can catch the action live on Peacock, CNBC, and ESPN+, with coverage of featured groups throughout the day.
