PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico — Nelly Korda stayed out of bother at Mayakoba’s Riviera Maya Open, the one LPGA Tour occasion held in Mexico, and performed a bogey-free 5-under 67 on Friday to share the lead with Briana Do.
Korda solely had a bonus on two of El Camaleon’s 4 par-5s, and was compelled to scramble out of the best tough on the par-5 18th. However she made a superb contact with a spot wedge from simply over 50 yards to 4 ft and closed out the spherical with a birdie.
That allowed her to catch Doe, who hit the golf green metallic together with his second shot on the par-4 ninth, ending with a bogey 69.
The course on the Caribbean coast was uncovered to stronger winds than the earlier morning’s waves, leading to a rating of 9 underneath and 135.
“Drive straight, pull in and make the putt,” Korda mentioned of the important thing to enjoying at El Camaleon, a relaxation course that after hosted PGA Tour and LIV Golf occasions.
Melanie Inexperienced, who shared the lead with Doe after 18 holes, fell behind till she made three birdies within the ultimate six holes for a 70, however was one stroke behind.
Japan’s Minami Katsu shot a 69, closing in on a two-stroke lead.
Korda solely hit seven of 14 fairways, however he not often misplaced his place and typically missed the golf green metallic off the tee to keep away from a bunker. However she made putts for birdie on all however two holes and hit a number of constant 4-foot par putts.
She additionally had an enormous following, although solely partially associated to her wire-to-wire win ultimately week’s Chevron Championship, her second win of the 12 months and third profession main to grow to be the No. 1 participant in girls’s golf.
She was enjoying alongside Mexico’s Gabby Lopez, who shot a 71 and was 4 pictures behind.
“Whereas enjoying with Gabby, the gang was amazed to see the native help for her,” Korda mentioned. “And I am not going to complain about my place on the leaderboard. It is enjoyable to play some stable golf and play in entrance of a enjoyable crowd, which is Gabby’s hometown crowd. Hopefully, I can proceed to play nicely and play good golf into the weekend.”
The 36-year-old American shot a 69 with out making a birdie on the par-5s. However her iron recreation gave her loads of alternatives for birdies, and he or she made 4 of them.
She tied for ninth on the Riviera Maya Open a 12 months in the past, her solely prime 10 on the LPGA Tour.
“I used to be in that place right here final 12 months, so I’m going to be slightly extra ready this 12 months,” Do mentioned. “I believe it is by no means comfy being in rivalry and main. So I am simply going to embrace it and play with myself, get a really feel for it and see what occurs. I am simply going to just accept what occurs.”
