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Convergence of Eras: Novak and Coughlin Capture Grant Thornton Title in Record-Breaking Fashion

2025 Grant Thornton Invitational Results.

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2025 Grant Thornton Invitational Results: Novak & Coughlin Win

NAPLES, Fla. — The 2025 Grant Thornton Invitational results are officially in, and a new record has been set at Tiburón Golf Club. What began early in the week as a lighthearted joke about a “Modern Grand Slam” ended late Sunday afternoon with Andrew Novak and Lauren Coughlin shattering the tournament scoring record to claim the title.

In a final round defined by shifting winds, a claustrophobic leaderboard, and high stakes, the duo delivered a masterclass performance in team chemistry. Novak and Coughlin fired a blistering 9-under 63 on Sunday to finish at 28-under par (188). Their victory headlines the 2025 Grant Thornton Invitational results, securing the trophy by a commanding three-stroke margin over a crowded field of challengers that included major champions and world number ones.

The win earned the pair a split of the $1 million first-place prize, marking the largest single payday of Coughlin’s career and capping a transformative year for the American star.

“Lauren is probably the single most reliable golfer I’ve ever played with,” Novak said during the trophy presentation, deflecting the credit to his partner. “I had so much pressure taken off me because I knew she was going to be in the fairway. It allowed me to be aggressive when I needed to be.”

2025 Grant Thornton Invitational Results: Sunday Recap

The unique “Modified Four-Ball” format used in the final round allowed for aggressive scoring, which completely reshaped the 2025 Grant Thornton Invitational results on the final day. In this format, both players hit tee shots, switch balls for the second shot, and then select the best ball to play into the hole. This strategic twist meant that teams could attack flags with reckless abandon, knowing their partner likely had a safe ball in play.

While the leaders opened with a steady birdie on the first hole, they soon hit a stagnant patch, reeling off three consecutive pars. In an event where the winning score often pushes 30-under, pars felt like bogeys. Meanwhile, the chase pack was igniting.

Two groups ahead, the powerhouse duo of Jennifer Kupcho and Chris Gotterup tore through the front nine. Leveraging Gotterup’s immense power off the tee and Kupcho’s ball-striking precision, they posted a 6-under 30 on the outward nine. By the time the final group made the turn, the dynamic had shifted dramatically: Novak and Coughlin had lost the lead, and the pressure was mounting.

The Turning Point: Novak’s Back-Nine Charge

The tournament effectively turned on a 45-minute stretch on the back nine, a sequence that defined the final outcome and cemented the top spot on the leaderboard. Standing on the 13th tee, trailing by one stroke and sensing the momentum slipping away, Andrew Novak took control.

  • Hole 13: After a precise drive, Novak stuck his approach to seven feet and poured in the birdie putt to tie the lead.

  • Hole 14: On the par-5, the team capitalized on their length, setting up another birdie to reclaim the lead outright.

  • Hole 15: Riding the wave of adrenaline, Novak dialed in another iron shot, converting from close range to extend the lead.

This three-hole stretch was the catalyst for their place atop the 2025 Grant Thornton Invitational results board. “I didn’t really look at the leaderboard until 13,” Novak admitted later. “But once I saw where we stood, I knew we had to go. You can’t play defensive golf on this course.”

The Dagger on the 17th Hole

If the middle of the back nine was about offense, the finish was about handling the elements. The wind, blowing from the East-Southeast, made the closing stretch at Tiburón particularly treacherous. The pivotal moment arrived at the par-5 17th.

Playing in the group ahead, Kupcho and Gotterup faltered under the pressure. Both players missed the green in difficult positions—Gotterup in the waste area and Kupcho in the rough—and failed to get up and down for birdie. They settled for a par, which effectively ended their title bid.

Minutes later, Novak and Coughlin seized the opening. Knowing a birdie would likely seal the tournament, Novak struck a precise approach and drained a clutch 6-foot birdie putt. The “dagger” had been plunged, extending the lead to two strokes with only one hole to play.

Fittingly, Lauren Coughlin applied the final brushstroke on the 18th. After navigating the water hazard that guards the entire left side of the fairway, she rolled in the final birdie putt of the week. It capped a back-nine performance where the team birdied five of their last six holes to slam the door on the field.

Final Leaderboard: 2025 Grant Thornton Invitational Results

The winners left a high-powered trio of teams in their wake. World No. 1 Nelly Korda and putting wizard Denny McCarthy finished in a tie for second. Korda, who had been a dominant ball-striker all week, missed a 10-foot birdie on the final hole that would have secured solo second place.

They were joined at 25-under by Kupcho and Gotterup, as well as the fan-favorite pairing of Charley Hull and rookie Michael Brennan. Hull and Brennan had set the tone on Friday with a record-tying 55 in the scramble format but ran out of steam on Sunday, carding a 65.

For more details on the field statistics, check out the official LPGA Tournament Page.

Below is the full breakdown of the 2025 Grant Thornton Invitational results:

Pos Team Total Score Round 3 Score Total Earnings
1 Coughlin / Novak -28 (188) 63 (-9) $1,000,000
T2 Kupcho / Gotterup -25 (191) 63 (-9) $380,000
T2 Korda / McCarthy -25 (191) 63 (-9) $380,000
T2 Hull / Brennan -25 (191) 65 (-7) $380,000
T5 Zhang / Kim -23 (193) 65 (-7) $202,500
T5 Henderson / Conners -23 (193) 65 (-7) $202,500
T7 Woad / Clanton -22 (194) 62 (-10) $175,000
T7 Yin / Hoge -22 (194) 64 (-8) $175,000

Impact on the Future of Mixed Golf

For Coughlin, the victory represents more than just a trophy; it is a life-changing financial windfall. The $500,000 winner’s share is a testament to the event’s commitment to closing the gender pay gap in sports, offering a purse equal to many standard tour events.

Beyond the money, the 2025 Grant Thornton Invitational results reinforce the growing synergy between the PGA and LPGA tours. The event continues to prove that mixed competition is not just a novelty, but a compelling product that highlights the skill of both tours.

“The fans didn’t care who hit the shot,” one observer noted near the 18th green. “They just wanted to see great golf. It didn’t matter if it was a PGA Tour drive or an LPGA Tour putt.”

For Novak, the win bookends a 2025 season where he also won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans alongside Ben Griffin, cementing his reputation as the premier partner in professional golf.

“Some are calling it the modern-day Grand Slam—Zurich and Grant Thornton,” Novak joked, clutching the trophy. It may have been said with a smile, but after 54 holes of synchronized dominance in Naples, the result was serious business. The pair leaves Florida not just as champions, but as the new standard-bearers for mixed-team golf.

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