PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico — Nelly Korda made a robust exhibiting Saturday on the Riviera Maya Open in Mayakoba with a giant drive and an 18-inch eagle off an 8-iron on the ultimate gap to increase his result in three strokes with a 5-under 67.
At stake for the No. 1 participant in girls’s golf is the possibility to win back-to-back LPGA titles and turn out to be the primary participant since Annika Sorenstam in 2001 to begin a season with a runner-up end or higher in six consecutive tournaments.
She has performed within the closing group in all six tournaments this 12 months.
Simply as spectacular, Korda has gained a serious championship and competed wire-to-wire on the Chevron Championship at Memorial Park, a giant course for onerous hitters. El Camaleon is in a troublesome scenario with hassle on each side, however she’s managing to get via it.
“I simply acquired a giant win, however I took Monday off to chill out. I am coming to work from there. It is not a trip,” Korda stated with a smile. “It is a powerful golf course. Crucial factor for me is to be mentally relaxed. I would be mendacity if I stated my power stage was 100%.”
Korda was 14-under 202.
She completed on the par-3 fifteenth gap, the place the inexperienced was uncovered to the Caribbean breeze, with a 9-iron to 2 ft with the wind blowing from proper to left. This was her second consecutive spherical with no bogey. His solely bogey of the match got here on the eleventh gap on Thursday.
Arpichaya Yubol (Thailand), who was three strokes behind, scored a 66 with a birdie-birdie end and superior to the ultimate group.
“I’ve by no means performed along with her earlier than,” Yubol stated. “Nelly Korda, Lydia Ko, they’re each like my idols as a result of they play so properly. And if I’ve to play along with her tomorrow, it is identical to a dream come true for me. So my life is ideal proper now.”
Minami Katsu shot a 69, closing in on a four-stroke lead.
Korda hasn’t visited Mayakoba since his rookie 12 months in 2017. However she does have staff expertise in a single large space. She is searching for her third win of the 12 months and 18th of her LPGA profession, however the 4 gamers instantly behind her have but to win on the LPGA.
The one time Korda felt confused was when he ran right into a bunker on the troublesome par-4 ninth and laid up wanting the inexperienced. She hit a wedge 8 ft behind the opening and stored it bogey-free.
Nonetheless, he put a 3-wood on the inexperienced for a two-putt birdie on the par-5 thirteenth, attacked the entrance pin on the fifteenth, and saved his finest till the tip with an 8-iron on the 18th.
“We’re simply attempting to keep away from errors as a lot as attainable,” she stated. “You are going to hit some unhealthy pictures right here and there and get in hassle, however the purpose is to keep away from holes that get you in hassle.”
Though Yuboru had a sluggish spherical that day, she might be enjoying with certainly one of her favourite golf gamers on Sunday, her birthday. She might be 24 years outdated.
“She’s younger, however on the finish of the day, I am simply attempting to deal with myself and get the job accomplished and see how the day goes,” Korda stated.
