JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Nelly Korda shot a 7-under 65 Saturday and can take a 2-stroke lead over Hannah Inexperienced into the ultimate spherical of the Mizuho Americas Open in a bid to win for the sixth time in her previous seven occasions on the LPGA Tour.
After seeing Rose Zhang snap her tour record-tying five-tournament profitable streak within the Cognizant Founders Cup final week, the top-ranked Korda has gotten higher each spherical in posting a three-round 13-under 203 whole at scenic Liberty Nationwide.
Inexperienced, whose two wins make her the one different repeat winner on tour this yr, took benefit of the calm and dry morning situations and made a serious transfer, capturing an event-record 63. It was one shot higher than one of the best spherical final yr, the primary yr of the occasion.
Korda and Inexperienced, who’re ranked 1-2 within the Rolex participant of the yr standings, might be within the last pairing Sunday on the course that has the New York Metropolis skyline, the Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty for a backdrop.
Neither participant had a bogey Saturday, however they did mix for 16 birdies. Korda performed within the afternoon when the climate obtained somewhat chillier and windier and there was a light-weight rain for the ultimate 9 holes. She took the lead with a birdie on 15, simply missed an eagle on the driveable sixteenth after which missed two birdie putts on the ultimate two holes.
She walked off the course shaking her head.
“The primary 9 the wind was down, it was sunny, it was heat,” Korda stated. “By the point we obtained close to to the water on the again 9 the wind began selecting up and it began drizzling. It was the climate we type of performed within the first day, so made positive to remain heat and to take it a shot at a time.”
Too clear 🧼😮💨 pic.twitter.com/uxmnTapjyn
— LPGA (@LPGA) Could 18, 2024
She and Inexperienced will not have to fret about Zhang. The defending champion needed to withdraw early within the first spherical with an sickness. General, seven gamers withdrew with numerous diseases within the first two days.
Rookie Gabriela Ruffels of Australia, who completed third final week, was tied for third at 10 underneath with Ayaka Furue of Japan, who birdied the ultimate gap.
Jennifer Kupcho, who misplaced this occasion final yr in a playoff with Zhang, was at 9 underneath together with Sophia Popov of Germany and Pajaree Anannarukarn of the Philippines. Kupcho and Popov had 67s, yet another than Anannarukarn.
There was a big group at 8 underneath, together with first-round chief So Mi Lee, the South Korean alternate who obtained into the occasion an hour earlier than her tee time.
Third-round chief Atthaya Thitikul, who lately returned from a thumb harm, struggled and had a 74 and was in a bunch at 7 underneath, 6 pictures behind Korda.
Inexperienced hit 17 greens regardless of lacking a few fairways.
“Really hit it actually shut, so it was very nice to truly not should stress about making an attempt to make pars at this time,” the 27-year-old stated. “However it did really feel like autopilot for somewhat bit there, which could be very good. So, yeah, now I put myself hopefully in competition for Sunday.”
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