Mexico City (AFP) – Top-ranked Nelly Korda, coming off her third major title, closed with a birdie to seize a share of the lead after Friday’s second round of the LPGA Riviera Maya Open. The 27-year-old American fired a bogey-free five-under par 67 to stand on nine-under 135 after 36 holes at El Camaleon Golf Course in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
“It was a good day,” Korda said. “Drove it really well. Hit it to the right spots on the green and capitalized on some good shots.” She finished level with compatriot Brianna Do, who fired a 69 in quest of her first LPGA title, with American Melanie Green one stroke back on 136 after shooting 70 and Japan’s Minami Katsu fourth on 137 after a 68.
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Korda captured the Chevron Championship last week for her third career major and also won the LPGA season-opening Tournament of Champions. She finished second in her other three starts so far this year. Korda, who began the day two strokes behind co-leader Do, birdied the second, par-five fifth and par-three eighth, then birdied 14 and the par-five 18th to grab a share of the lead.
“Overall just a solid day,” Korda said. “Didn’t make any mistakes really. If I did, I bounced back really well.” Do began on the back nine with back-to-back birdies then added birdies at the par-three 15th and par-four second before a closing bogey.
“I started with two birdies on 10, 11, my first two holes, and that really got things going,” Do said. “Kind of a lull in the middle on the back nine, but kept it together and shot three-under, so good round. Solid.”
Spain’s Carlota Ciganda and China’s Liu Yu, who shot 66, shared fifth on 138 with Germany’s Olivia Cowan, Mexico’s Gaby Lopez, Paraguay’s Sofia Garcia, and Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol sharing seventh on 139.
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