Lauren Coughlin, Andrew Novak clinch Grant Thornton team title

Andrew Novak joked early in the week that he was in gunning for what some are calling the modern-day grand slam. After winning the PGA Tour's Zurich Classic earlier this year with partner Ben Griffin, Novak racked up a second team title at the Grant Thornton Invitational.

This time, he teamed with two-time LPGA winner Lauren Coughlin for the silly season title.

"I mean, it was definitely a joke, but it is kind of funny looking back," said Novak. "I won Zurich, I won the Pebble Beach, the pro-am section, with my teammate in that as well."

Novak called Coughlin the most reliable golfer he's ever played with. The pair each took home a $500,000 paycheck at Tiburon Golf Club, the largest check of Coughlin's career. At the Amundi Evian Championship last year, she won $410,626 when she finished fourth.

"I think it's great visibility for the LPGA to be able to partner with the PGA Tour and to get to play with some of the best players in the world on the men's side," said 33-year-old Coughlin, who made her Solheim Cup debut last year.

As they wrapped up the victory, Novak's wife was there on the 18th green with their infant daughter to celebrate. It marked their first time traveling together to a tournament as a family of three.

"We didn't really know how it was going to go," said Novak. "She slept through the night basically every night. I wasn't really waking up, it was amazing. Yeah, it really went better than we could have expected."

What was a tight race on the back nine with three teams tied through 13 holes, turned into a cruise to the clubhouse for Novak and Coughlin, who held a two-stroke lead going into the last hole at Tiburon Golf Club. Coughlin rolled in a birdie on the 18th to put an exclamation point on the day and win by three.

Their 28 under total set a record for the event, with a closing 63 in the modified four-ball format. Coughlin and Novak birdied five of the last six holes.

Three teams finished in a share of second at 25 under: Charley Hull/Michael Brennan, Jennifer Kupcho/Chris Gotterup and Nelly Korda/Denny McCarthy.

"I think right now we're both a little frustrated just because we're both very competitive and like to win," said McCarthy. "We know we probably left some shots out there. ... her game is phenomenal. I learned a lot three years ago, I continue to learn a lot from her playing with her the last three days. We just had a lot of fun."

Korda heads next to the PNC Championship in Orlando, Florida, where she'll tee it up with her father Petr.

"I mean, the memories that you create there playing alongside like your dad is, I mean, those are core memories that you share forever," said Korda of her last week of competition. "To see his competitive spirits come back and be alive during that one week is a lot of fun."

Both Korda and Hull attacked the flag on the 18th and, for a moment, looked like they each might hole out for eagle. Neither, however, could convert the putts.

Canadians Brooke Henderson and Corey Conners, one of two teams to play in all three editions, finished fifth with Rose Zhang and Michael Kim.

The youngest team in the field, newcomers Lottie Woad and Luke Clanton, shot the lowest round of the day, 62, along with defending champions Patty Tavatanakit and Jake Knapp. They finished T-7 and ninth, respectively.

Jessica Korda, playing in her first event in more than two and a half years, finished T-13 (last place) with Bud Cauley and inaugural winners in 2023 Lydia Ko and Jason Day. Also bringing up the rear is Keith Mitchell/Megan Khang and Tony Finau/Lilia Vu.