LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nelly Korda seized a share of the lead at the U.S. Women’s Open on Saturday with her second straight 4-under 67, ending with three consecutive birdies and finishing even with Sei Young Kim at 6-under 207.
Korda, the world No. 1 and a three-time major winner after dominating The Chevron Championship in April , has played her way into prime position to contend for her second straight major title and first U.S. Open championship Sunday
at Riviera.
Korda was seven shots off the lead after her opening-round 73, but she got into contention with Friday’s lowest score before surging steadily up the leaderboard on moving day.
“Tt’s always amazing to be in this position,” Korda said. “That’s what we work so hard for, to be in this spot. So whatever happens tomorrow happens, but I’m going to give it my all and see what the outcome is.”
Several players traded the lead on a sunny afternoon in front of the week’s biggest crowd at this 100-year-old country club in Pacific Palisades. Seven players were within two shots of the top of a leaderboard crowded with major winners.
First-round leader Jennifer Kupcho and 2015 U.S. Women’s Open champion In Gee Chun were a shot back at 5 under after 69s, while second-round co-leader Ruoning Yin, Mexico's Gaby Lopez and Japan's Nasa Hataoka were 4 under.
But Sunday's field will have to tangle with Korda, who has been near the top of her formidable game for the past two days.
Korda chipped in from the fringe for birdie on the third hole Saturday, and she nailed an 18-foot birdie putt on the sixth. She finished with her birdie spree, reaching the par-5 17th green in two before smashing her 154-yard approach shot to 4 feet on the 18th.
Korda had never posted consecutive rounds in the 60s in a U.S. Women’s Open, not even last year when she tied for second at Erin Hills. She believes that experience and her ongoing work on her mental game have put her in a prime position to execute Sunday.
“I’m not going to get too frustrated,” Korda said. “I think last year I really, really wanted it, and the more you want it, sometimes the more you stiffen up and you get a little bit more nervous. So I play my best golf when I’m happy, free Nelly and I’m kind of joking around out there. That’s kind of the attitude that I’m going to have (Sunday).”
Kim was one shot off the lead after each of the first two rounds, and the South Korean star carded a steady 68 after a birdie on 17 to stay right on pace with Korda.
“I tried to keep my patience and just waited for a chance,” said Kim, a 13-time winner on the LPGA Tour. “When the chances came to me, I just made it.”
Both second-round leaders are also still firmly in contention. Southern California native Alison Lee was one shot off the lead on the back nine before making three late bogeys and finishing at 3 under, while Yin made three bogeys on the front nine before getting back to 4 under with two late birdies.
Lee, who gave birth to son Levi 15 months ago, would be only the fourth mother to win the U.S. Open and the first since Juli Inkster in 2002.
England's Charley Hull carded Saturday's low round at 65, making seven birdies and moving just three shots back of the lead. Asterisk Talley, a 17-year-old amateur from California’s Central Valley, shot a 66.
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/golf
