Hye-Jin Choi carded a three-under 67 on Friday to claim a share of the lead at The Annika, a significant moment in her pursuit of a maiden LPGA Tour victory. Choi opened with consecutive bogeys but recovered through the round, highlighted by a 15-foot eagle putt on the par-five seventh hole. She now sits atop the leaderboard at 12-under 128 alongside Solheim Cup star Carlota Ciganda and Lindy Duncan, who finished Friday rounds of 63 and 66, respectively.
Nelly Korda, the world’s top-ranked player, posted a bogey-free 69 that featured 15 straight pars, one birdie, and two closing pars, leaving her four shots adrift heading into the weekend. Kord, who is competing for the first time in two months, acknowledged having multiple birdie opportunities but attributed her difficulty to the course conditions and wind. A victory at Pelican Golf Club would make the 28-year-old American eligible for the LPGA Hall of Fame.
Choi has been an LPGA member for five years and has experienced near-miss moments in her career, including a runner-up finish at the 2017 US Women’s Open as a teenager and recent runner-up results in Shanghai and South Korea. She drew confidence from playing alongside Kord in the opening two rounds, stating the experience has helped settle her nerves for the weekend rounds. Duncan, a 35-year-old Floridian, reached at least a share of the lead through 36 holes for the first time in her LPGA career after going 2-1 in her Solheim Cup debut.
The Japanese pairing of Mao Saigo and Minami Katsu held positions two shots behind the leaders following rounds of 65 and 69. Low scoring throughout the opening round meant a one-under 139 was sufficient to make the cut. Julia Lopez Ramirez of Spain, fresh off a Solheim Cup victory, positioned herself at nine-under 131 and improved her standing in the Race to CME Globe standings.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI