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LA COLOGNE, Texas (AP) – Jessica Korda was prepared for another thrilling round at the Old American Golf Club. Maybe a little too prepared.
“My immediate regret when I was in the top nine, my kneecaps started sweating and I had no pants to take off,” said Korda. “What a beautiful day today. I know it was really cold this morning, but a lot less windy than we could have imagined, such a spectacular day.”
At the end of the day on Friday, the 27-year-old from Florida had a lead in the Volunteers of America Classic with Anna Nordqvist and 19-year-old Yealimi Noh.
After the temperature never got out of the 40s on Thursday, it was in the 50s on Friday in the final setup before the US Women’s Open next week at the Champions Golf Club in Houston.
“I kept saying to my caddy,” Today it would be so nice to hike your dog, have a cup of coffee, say how grateful you are for everything in your life, “Korda said.
Korda made his second 2 under 69 in a row. The five-time winner of the LPGA Tour played the first 12 holes in 4 under, then dropped a shot in the 13th par 5 and saved the last five.
“It was tough,” Korda said. “The first nine pins were quite acceptable. Nine pins, she was just being defended all day. It didn’t matter where I put myself. Honestly, I was trying to attack him from different angles. I’m happy with my shot. Honestly, I don’t know what else I could have done. “
Nordqvist finished with a bogey par 4 18 for a 68. The 33-year-old Swede made all her birdies on the par 4 holes. She saved the four par-5 holes.
“I am thrilled to have played really well today and that it was a little warmer today than yesterday,” Nordqvist said. “But overall I felt like I played really well. There were a lot of difficult pin placements out there. “
Noh, the 2018 US Girls’ Junior winner, had the best round of the week with a 66. She had six birdies – four in a row on number 17-2 – and a bugbear.
“I feel really good about how I’m hitting,” Noh said. “I just hit a lot of greens today and did a couple of ups and downs.”
Lindsey Weaver was one shot behind the leaders after a 68.
First place winner Jin Young Ko was 2 under with Inbee Park, Madelene Sagstrom, Angela Stanford and Pornanong Phatlum.
Ko had five birdies and three bogeys in a 69. Two weeks ago he drew in 34th place in his first LPGA Tour event of the year.
“Yesterday it was cold and then a lot of wind, but today it was just calm and sunny, so big difference,” said Ko. “I may have hybridized some holes, but today 8 or 7 rows, so it was easier.”
Sagstrom finished birdie-eagle for a 69, punching from 70 yards with a 58 degree wedge on 18.
“I got a very good number out of 18, and I was like,“ OK, I can be aggressive here, ”Sagstrom said.“ I passed it a little bit and thought, ‘OK, go back. ‘And he started turning back and my caddy, Jack, said to me,’ Come in! To come in!. And it simply disappeared. “
The Swede was packed for the morning ride.
“I really packed clothes today and did better,” Sagstrom said. “But now I’m really very sexy.”
Park, the 2013 and 2018 winner, shot 68. Stanford had a 69 and Phatlum a 71.
Round one leader Charley Hull followed her opening 68 with a 74 to drop in a tie for 14th place even. He played a six-hole stretch in 5 overs, scoring three bogeys and a double bugbear.
Reigning champion Cheyenne Knight had surpassed 2 years after a 73.
So Yeon Ryu was also 2 years old after his 72 seconds in his first US event of the LPGA Tour since last year’s season-ending CME Group Tour Championship.
Jeongeun Lee6, the reigning Women’s Open champion, was 4 over after two 73s.
The cut was finished at 8.
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