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BELLEAIR, FL — On a pristine Sunday at Pelican Golf Club, Linn Grant delivered a flawless final-round performance to secure a three-shot victory at The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican. The victory marks the 26-year-old Swede’s second career LPGA title and, fittingly, makes her the first player from Sweden to win the event named for her idol and tournament host, Annika Sörenstam.
Grant began the day with a one-stroke lead over Jennifer Kupcho, and the final round briefly saw a tie when Kupcho birdied the first hole. However, Grant quickly responded with a birdie of her own on the second hole and never trailed again. Her consistency was breathtaking throughout the week; heading into Sunday, she had played 35 consecutive holes without a bogey, a streak that would eventually extend to 52 holes before a final-hole bogey—which mattered only to the scorecard—set her final tournament total at 19-under 261.
The decisive moment came on the front nine. After Grant made a clutch 15-foot birdie putt to maintain a slim advantage through five holes, she seized complete control on the par-3 ninth. Kupcho faltered with her second bogey of the front nine, while Grant rolled in a 10-foot birdie putt, instantly extending her lead to three strokes. No one in the chasing pack ever closed the gap again.
Grant ultimately closed with a 5-under 65, the same score as her final-round playing partner Kupcho, who finished alone in second place at 16-under. Mexico’s Gaby Lopez also posted a strong 65, including four birdies over her final six holes, to finish in third place at 15-under.
Beyond the championship drama, the final round provided a moment of pure magic when Brooke Matthews holed her tee shot on the par-3 12th to win a two-year lease on a Lamborghini SUV. Matthews’ subsequent eagle on the par-5 14th helped her secure a high finish and dramatically moved her into the top 60 of the Race to the CME Globe, qualifying her for the season-ending championship next week.
Grant’s victory, celebrated with Sörenstam herself on the 18th green, serves as a powerful tribute to Swedish golf history and sends her into the season finale with immense momentum.
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker serves as the Director of Operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a co-host on the P&W Sports Report and hosting The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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