Following Friday's second round of the LPGA Drive On Championship, reigning Olympic champion Nelly Korda shot a four-under par 67 to take a two-stroke lead. Korda birdied three of her final four holes.
After 36 holes at Bradenton Country Club, the 25-year-old hometown favorite and daughter of former Australian Open tennis winner Petr Korda was at 10-under 132.
"I've hit it pretty well the past two days, drove it well, given myself some opportunities," Korda said. "At the end of the day, made some putts."
Making only her seventh tour start, South Korean rookie Lee So-mi blasted a 65 to take second place on 134, with Lydia Ko of New Zealand, Lin Xiyu of China, and Ayaka Furue of Japan sharing third place on 135.
World number four Korda, who shared the 18-hole lead with Ko after opening 65s, began on the back nine and answered a bogey at the par-3 11th with a birdie at 13.
Korda birdied the par-3 15th and par-5 17th holes to seize the solo lead at the turn.
She stumbled with a bogey at the fifth but responded with birdies on the par-5 sixth and eighth holes and a closing birdie at the par-3 ninth to seize command.
"I just knew that I could probably take advantage of the two par-5s. If I had good drives, they're both reachable," Korda said. "Everyone is going to make mistakes. It's all just about minimizing it."
Lee, a 25-year-old in her first event as an LPGA member, had her best tour finish in her debut, sharing fourth at the 2019 BMW Ladies Championship in South Korea.
The world number 58 birdied the second and fourth holes and added a birdie at the par-3 seventh and a bogey at the par-5 eighth.
Lee began the back nine with a birdie, added back-to-back birdies at 13 and 14 and had another at the par-5 17th.
"My birdie putts dropped more today," Lee said. "There was a short par putt I missed, which was unbelievable, so it's a little disappointing, but I'm not a robot. I'm a human and can make mistakes."
Ninth-ranked Ko, coming off her 20th career LPGA triumph on Sunday at the season-opening Tournament of Champions, shot 70.
"I didn't have my A-game, but to shoot under par on a day where you don't feel like it's as solid is a good place to be," Ko said.
Furue, who finished fourth last week, opened the scoring with a 67. She surged into contention after making birdies on four of the first six holes.
Furue added, "I just focused on my play." "I was pretty good."
After making four bogeys in five holes from holes 12 to 16, Lin finished with a birdie at the 17th. Following the turn, she finished with four straight birdies, having already birdied the first three holes.
"I feel good," Lin remarked. "The start wasn't great. Really, nothing was working. At last, throughout the back nine, the putts became more consistent. I'm rather pleased with myself."
End//voice7news.tv
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