Nelly Korda stormed right into a three-shot lead on the Hilton Grand Holidays Event of Champions in her push for a primary title in over a yr as England’s midway chief Lottie Woad noticed her hopes of victory fade after a day of bogeys in blustery Florida.
World No 2 Korda has not picked up a trophy since The Annika in November 2024, when she completed three strokes away from a bunch together with Charley Hull to say her seventh triumph of a glittering calendar yr that included a second main title of her profession.
The American cantered to 13 below par within the LPGA Tour occasion at Lake Nona after an eight-under 64 on a cold Saturday, registering seven birdies and an eagle forward of a sole blemish at 17, earlier than telling reporters the taxing circumstances left her in “survival mode”.
Korda was three strokes behind co-leaders Woad and 2024 Olympic gold medallist Lydia Ko after 36 holes, however breezed previous these two, who had been nonetheless on the course when play was suspended resulting from winds.
Woad shot three over by way of 16 holes in a spherical that has included 5 bogeys, together with 4 in 5 holes on the entrance 9, and the 22-year-old is now eight photographs adrift.
Ko, who notched a bogey and double bogey on her again 9, is at even par after 15 and eight below for the occasion, 5 off Korda.
Woad stumbles after run of bogeys
Woad – who secured two Girls European Tour titles final July when victory on the Irish Open was swiftly adopted by success on the Scottish Open weeks later – suffered blemishes at three, 4, 5 and 7 after a gap birdie had seen her rise to 9 below.
She collected six pars on the trot earlier than one other bogey at 14 was adopted by a birdie at 15 and par at 16 previous to the stoppage.
Korda started birdie-birdie-eagle earlier than snapping a run of 4 consecutive pars with back-to-back positive aspects at eight and 9 as she went out in a six-under 30.
The 27-year-old continued to prosper after the flip with birdies at 12, 14 and 15 earlier than ending par-bogey-par, leaving her three away from South Korea’s Amy Yang, who’s at 10 below with two holes remaining in her third spherical.
Korda stated, looking forward to the ultimate day: “I think the most important thing is just being super present.
“For me, I’ve gained so many various methods. I’ve all the time made it very fascinating coming down the stretch, sadly,
“That has made me a bit tougher mentally – I don’t mind chasing and I don’t mind being in the lead. I love just being in contention.”
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