PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico — Nelly Korda kept out of trouble and played bogey-free Friday for a 5-under 67, giving her a share of the early lead with Brianna Do in Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba in the LPGA Tour’s only tournament in Mexico.Korda only took advantage on two of the four par 5s at El Camaleon, and she had to scramble on the par-5 18th coming out of the right rough. But she had the right touch on a gap wedge from just over 50 yards to 4 feet to close out her round with a birdie.That allowed her to catch Do, who had a fairway metal for her second shot into the par-4 ninth and finished with a bogey for a 69.They were at 9-under 135 among the early starters, though they still faced a stronger wind than the morning wave from the day before on the course along the coast of the Caribbean Sea.“Drive it straight, hit it close and make putts,” Korda said of the key to playing El Camaleon, the rest course that previously hosted PGA Tour and LIV Golf events.Minami Katsu of Japan had a 69 and was two shots behind.Melanie Green, who shared the 18-hole lead with Do, and Carlota Ciganda were among those playing in the afternoon when the temperature climbs and the wind typically picks up.Korda hit only seven of the 14 fairways, though she was rarely out of position and at times went with a fairway metal off the tee to a …
