Korda misses 2nd straight LPGA lower in Michigan

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Nelly Korda missed her second straight lower after profitable six of seven occasions, rallying Friday however falling a stroke wanting advancing to weekend play within the Meijer LPGA Traditional.

The highest-ranked Korda adopted a gap 4-over 76 in windy situations Thursday with a 67 to get to 1 underneath at Blythefield Nation Membership, the place she gained in 2021 at a tournament-record 25 underneath.

“Did not play too dangerous,” Korda stated. “Simply robust week.”

Ally Ewing and Grace Kim shared the lead at 11-under 133. Eighty-one gamers at 2 underneath or higher superior.

Ewing had a 63. She chipped in for eagle on the par-5 eighth and closed with consecutive birdies.

“That was simply fairly regular golf,” Ewing stated. “I really feel like I am placing the ball very well … simply as much as rolling some putts in.”

Kim shot 65. On her opening 9, the Australian rebounded from a bogey on the par-4 seventeenth with an eagle on the par-5 18th.

“Clearly, struggled with the wind yesterday,” Kim stated. “However grinded out a superb 4 underneath after which took my alternatives from a morning tee time in the present day.

Two weeks after making a ten on a gap in a first-round 80 on the U.S. Ladies’s Open in Pennsylvania, Korda opened double bogey-bogey-bogey Thursday afternoon in robust wind. She started Friday tied for 133rd — 11 strokes behind first-round chief Alison Lee.

“It was simply course administration yesterday with the wind,” Korda stated. “Simply could not play effectively. General, struck the ball effectively.”

Beginning on No. 10 in her morning spherical, Korda birdied the primary three holes and 4 of the primary 5. She bogeyed the seventeenth and added two birdies on her ultimate 9.

“I used to be simply making lengthy putts,” Korda stated. “Chipped in on No. 2. Made an extended putt on 1. Made an extended putt on 3. Three-putted on 8. Utterly slid my momentum down.”

She capped a record-tying run of 5 straight victories with a significant win at The Chevron Championship, then tied for seventh within the Founders Cup earlier than profitable the Mizuho Americas Open forward of the U.S. Ladies’s Open. After the break this week, she’s off to the Seattle space for the key KPMG Ladies’s PGA Championship at Sahalee.

“I am more than happy with the best way that I struck the ball in the present day off the tee — one thing I have been fighting this 12 months,” Korda stated. “This was by far the perfect I’ve hit it off the tee, so a bit of little bit of positivity going into KPMG.”

Nanna Koerstz Madsen of Denmark and Narin An of South Korea have been tied for third at 9 underneath. Koerstz Madsen had a 64, and An shot 68.

Brooke Henderson, the Canadian who gained the occasion in 2017 and 2019, shot a 69 to prime the group at 8 underneath. She performed alongside Korda and defending champion Leona Maguire the primary two days.

“It was a lot softer and never as a lot wind,” Henderson stated. “I want I may have capitalized a bit of bit extra on just a few birdie alternatives. On the similar time, pleased with 3 underneath and excited to play the weekend.”

People Allisen Corpuz (68) and Lauren Hartlage (69) additionally have been 8 underneath with China’s Jing Yan (68) and South Korea’s Jin Hee Im (65).

Lee was tied for tenth at 7 underneath. She adopted her opening 65 with a 72, making 5 birdies and 5 bogeys.

Maguire was tied for forty eighth at 3 underneath after a 69.

Lilia Vu, a former No. 1 participant and double main winner final 12 months, was tied for twenty fifth at 5 underneath in her return from a again harm that sidelined her for the reason that Ford Championship in Arizona on the finish of March. She adopted a gap 69 with a 70.

Lexi Thompson, the 2015 winner, additionally was 5 underneath, taking pictures a 68. She has gone greater than 5 years with out profitable. Thompson has stated this shall be her final 12 months taking part in a full schedule.

“Hit a variety of nice pictures on the market and made some good birdies, particularly coming in.” Thompson stated. “So, positives going into weekend.”