Nelly Korda hits her stride and builds 2-shot lead in Phoenix
PHOENIX (AP) — Nelly Korda was just as good in the tougher afternoon conditions Friday, posting a 7-under 65 for the lowest 36-hole score of her LPGA Tour career and building a two-shot lead at the halfway point of the Ford Championship. Korda missed an opportunity late to stretch her lead a little more when she missed a 2-foot birdie putt on the par-5 17th. But this was not a day to complain on the Cattail course at Whirlwind Golf Club.
She followed a great opening round — something Lydia Ko failed to do — with a steady diet of birdie chances and a smooth, confident stroke with the putter. “I have left a couple shots out there at the end,” Korda said. “But I'm playing really solid golf, and when I do make a mistake, I try not go let it faze me too much.
” She was at 16-under 128, two shots ahead of a familiar face. Hyo Joo Kim, the defending champion in Phoenix, won last week at the Founders Cup by holding off Korda in the final hour. Korda missed a short putt on the 17th hole Sunday that thwarted hopes of a second straight win to start the year.
Kim, who opened with a 61, overcame a mistakes early to post a 69. Saturday will be the fourth straight round for Korda and Kim to play in the same group. “Just getting sick of each other now,” Korda said with a laugh.
“Yeah, she’s playing such solid golf. At the end of the day that’s something that motivates me to want to stay with her at that level. We’re just going back and forth, so it’s nice.