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GILBERT, Ariz. — Nelly Korda fought by means of brutal situations to win in Southern California final week.
A stable opening spherical on a mushy course in excellent climate has the world’s No. 1 participant in place to win her third straight begin.
Korda shot a 6-under 66 within the first spherical of the Ford Championship on Thursday, leaving her three photographs again in a bid to develop into the primary LPGA Tour participant to win three straight begins in eight years.
“Utterly totally different right now in comparison with final weekend,” Korda mentioned. “The greens are fairly mushy. I do know Arizona has been getting a superb little bit of rain all through the winter. I knew there could be low scores on the market, so wanted to be aggressive.”
Every week after brutal wind exterior Los Angeles within the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship, superb scoring situations greeted the gamers within the inaugural occasion at Seville Golf and Nation Membership.
Pajaree Anannarukan took benefit with a bogey-free, 9-under 63 after beginning on the again 9 on the 6,734-yard course in suburban Phoenix. She had a one-shot lead over Lilia Vu, Gabriela Ruffels, Isa Gabsa and former Arizona State gamers Azahara Munoz and Carlota Ciganda.
The highest-ranked Korda opened with 4 birdies in 5 holes and closed with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 18th as she tries to develop into the primary LPGA Tour participant to win three straight begins since Ariya Jutanugarn in 2016.
Korda received the Drive On Championship in her hometown of Bradenton, Florida, earlier than sitting out all the LPGA Tour’s Asian swing. She confirmed no rust after the lengthy break, successful final week to maneuver again atop the world rating and is in competition once more.
“(I) saved it fairly mild firstly of the week figuring out I wanted relaxation and that was an important,” Korda mentioned.
Anannarukan has received twice on the LPGA Tour, together with final yr’s Financial institution of Hope Match Play at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas. The 24-year-old from Thailand missed the lower final week, however closed with 5 straight birdies to shoot 6-under 30 on Seville’s entrance 9.
“The situation’s actually just like Las Vegas,” she mentioned. “I really feel like if you will get the nice quantity into many of the photographs going into the inexperienced, that is simply actually useful. I believe I bought a extremely good quantity right now, simply actually helped me with the putts as effectively.”
Vu fell out of the highest spot on the earth when Korda received in a playoff final week at Palos Verdes Golf Membership. The 2-time main champion sandwiched 4 birdies round a bogey on the par-3 eighth and had 4 birdies on the again 9.
Cigand rolled in eight birdies in a bogey-free spherical that began on the again 9.
“I really like being right here. I really feel the assist – it simply feels very comfy,” she mentioned. “I am staying at house in order that’s very nice this week. Sleeping in my very own mattress. Yeah, consuming my very own dinners and doing my factor. In order that’s at all times very comfy.”
Munoz had a wild spherical that included eight birdies, an eagle and two bogeys in her bid to win for the primary time because the 2012 Sybase Match Play Championship.
Ruffels had seven birdies and an eagle with a bogey, every week after lacking a birdie putt that might have put her in a playoff with Korda and Ryann O’Toole. Gabsa had three birdies on the entrance 9, then reeled off 4 straight to shoot 5-under 31 on the again to complete off her bogey-free spherical.
Celine Boutier and Hyo Joo Kim shot 65.
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