Nelly Korda carded a seven-under 65 in Round 2 to take the outright lead at the Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass on the LPGA Tour, sitting two shots clear of the field heading into the weekend.
Nelly Korda is in control at the Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass. The American fired a 65 on Friday — matching her best score of the week alongside compatriot Jenny Bae and amateur Asterisk Talley — to reach a two-round total of 128 and move two shots clear of Hyo Joo Kim at the top of the LPGA Tour leaderboard.
Korda’s round was built on six birdies and an eagle at the par-five 12th hole, where she converted in three shots. A lone bogey was the only blemish on a disciplined card. She acknowledged the challenge of playing in the afternoon, when conditions had shifted noticeably: “It’s so much harder in the afternoon. The greens get so much bumpier. I feel like they were a foot faster this afternoon than they were yesterday.” Of her rivalry with Kim across the two rounds, she added: “She’s playing such solid golf. At the end of the day that’s something that motivates me to kind of want to stay with her at that level.”
Kim, who had set the early pace with a stunning opening 61, came back to earth somewhat with a 69, but an eagle on the par-five 12th helped her stay in contention at 130 overall. Jenny Bae matched Korda’s 65 with a bogey-free round that included an eagle on the par-five second hole, lifting her to tied third at 131 alongside Japan’s Minami Katsu and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko.
LPGA Tour: Hole 3 proves the toughest test at Wild Horse Pass
The par-three third hole was the most demanding on the course in Round 2, playing to an average of 3.19 with 33 bogeys against just 12 birdies across the field of 144 players. The par-four fourth was also above par on average, while the two par-fives — holes 17 and 12 — yielded the most birdie opportunities, attracting 92 and 78 birdies respectively. Ko, who acknowledged the unique nature of the venue, noted: “This is probably the most amount of wedges I hit into greens over the course of our year. But desert golf is I think very unique.” She also offered her read on what would be required over the final two rounds: “I think whoever is going to win is going to make a lot of birdies continuously over the next couple days.”
Among the Americans, Rose Zhang posted a tidy 67 to reach tied 13th at 135, while Sophia Schubert’s 68 — featuring an eagle at the second — kept her in the mix at tied 11th on 134. Schubert, who switched putters this week, said: “I switched putters this week and seemed to be working pretty well. Overall I feel really good about my game.” Amateur Asterisk Talley also carded a 65, highlighted by an eagle at the par-five second, though a double bogey at the 14th added some turbulence to an otherwise enterprising round.
Lindy Duncan was the biggest mover among the Americans, climbing 52 places into tied 23rd with a bogey-free 66. England’s Mimi Rhodes and Lottie Woad both made the cut, sitting at tied 35th and tied 61st respectively. Jessica Korda, playing in the same group as rookie Hailee Cooper, mixed one birdie with three bogeys for a 74 and missed the cut. “I’m in such a different place in my life than prior. I’m so happy in my life. This is just a bonus for me,” she reflected. Germany’s Esther Henseleit sits at tied 23rd, while compatriots Polly Mack and Isi Gabsa made it through the cut. Helen Briem and Aline Krauter did not advance.
This article was created with the help of AI and editorially reviewed.