Korda Takes One-Stroke Lead Into the Weekend
For the second time this season, Jessica Korda is atop the leaderboard on the LPGA Tour. The 25-year-old is in the midst of her career best season, with three top 10s and a victory in her first six starts. Friday, she put herself in position to pick up her second win of the year at the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship. Korda broke out of a five-way tie at the top after day one by posting a second round 5-under par, 67 to take a one-stroke lead into the weekend. Annie Park sits one back at 8-under par and Charley Hull is solo third at 7-under par.
"I knew I was going to get certain bounces that weren't going to be super favorable as the greens got firmer during the afternoon," Korda said after her round. "Just stayed patient and stayed with my process and here we are."
That process earned her five birdies in her first 10 holes. She dropped her only shot of the day at the par 4, 11th hole but still managed to make it around in 26 putts. Korda is currently ranked third on Tour in putting average and leads the Tour in scoring average at 68.850
Friday’s round is just the latest in what has been an incredible start to the year for Korda, who won the Honda LPGA Thailand for her fifth career win on Tour. What she has achieved this season has been all the more impressive given the struggles she endured over the last nine months. She was forced to withdraw from the Solheim Cup due to an arm injury, and during the off season she underwent extensive jaw surgery that sidelined her for months. But she came back and won in her first start back and has only continued to impress.
Friday, Park, who Monday qualified for this week’s event, posted the low round of the Tournament with a 6-under par, 66 with seven birdies and one bogey. Park went out in the morning wave and jumped out to as much as a four-stroke lead at 8-under par before the afternoon wave began their round. It was a nearly flawless day for the 2016 rookie who missed only one fairway and had just 26 putts.
“I was hitting it very well today and some putts were dropping,” Park said after her round. “It was a good day overall.”
Park is making her first start of 2018 this week at Lake Merced.
The cut line fell at 2-over par, which sent home several notables including Stacy Lewis (+4) who revealed earlier this week that she is pregnant with her first child. Other players who failed to make the cut include Paula Creamer (+5), Marina Alex (+6) and Pernilla Lindberg (+8).
Monday Qualifier Fires Second Round, 66
It’s been quite a week for Annie Park, who went from Monday qualifier to an early leader on Friday with a second round 6-under par, 66. After a one-hole playoff on Monday, Park earned one of the two spots in the field at Lake Merced where she competed in the U.S. Girls Junior as well as the 2016 Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic.
“It definitely helps knowing the golf course before coming into this week,” Park said. “It definitely gets tough when it's colder and windy, but overall I really like this golf course, it's fun.”
But the 2016 rookie’s transition to the LPGA Tour hasn’t always been fun.
In 2015, Park dominated on the Epson Tour. The USC standout won three times to finish atop the Volvik Race for the Card to earn her way on to the LPGA Tour in 2016. But Park has struggled in her transition to the LPGA, and back injuries only made the last two years more difficult as she lost her full status on the LPGA and returned this season to the Epson Tour.
“I had two or three flare-up’s that cost me two tournaments and I was out for a good three months, and it was to a point where I couldn't get out of my bed,” said Park about her injury in 2016. “I don't think it will like fully be great again.”
Rehab and exercises have helped Park manage addition flare-up’s. And the time away was a learning experience that gave her a greater appreciation for the sport she loved and missed.
“I was very excited to come back, and so it was actually a huge turning point for me, a different perspective towards life and golf.”
A New Rolex Rankings World No.1?
Just a week after Inbee Park overtook Shanshan Feng at No. 1 in the Rolex Rankings, there could be yet another player in the top spot come Monday morning.
Both Shanshan Feng and Lexi Thompson have a mathematical chance to become world No. 1 depending on their play this weekend as well as Park’s finish.
Feng and Thompson need to either win or finish second to have a chance. Feng held the No. 1 ranking for 23 weeks before losing the top spot to Park. Thompson has never held the No. 1 spot in her career.
Through 36-holes, Feng and Thompson are T35 at Even par and Park is T27 at 1-under par.
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