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GILBERT, Ariz. — Nelly Korda fought by means of brutal circumstances to win in Southern California final week.
A strong opening spherical on a delicate 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 pictures again in a bid to turn into the primary LPGA Tour participant to win three straight begins in eight years.
“Utterly completely different in the present day in comparison with final weekend,” Korda stated. “The greens are fairly delicate. I do know Arizona has been getting an excellent little bit of rain all through the winter. I knew there could be low scores on the market, so wanted to be aggressive.”
Per week after brutal wind outdoors Los Angeles within the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship, very best scoring circumstances 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 turn into the primary LPGA Tour participant to win three straight begins since Ariya Jutanugarn in 2016.
Korda gained the Drive On Championship in her hometown of Bradenton, Florida, earlier than sitting out the entire 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 rivalry once more.
“(I) stored it fairly mild at the start of the week figuring out I wanted relaxation and that was crucial,” Korda stated.
Anannarukan has gained twice on the LPGA Tour, together with final 12 months’s Financial institution of Hope Match Play at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas. The 24-year-old from Thailand missed the minimize final week, however closed with 5 straight birdies to shoot 6-under 30 on Seville’s entrance 9.
“The situation’s actually much like Las Vegas,” she stated. “I really feel like if you will get the nice quantity into many of the pictures going into the inexperienced, that is simply actually useful. I feel I obtained a very good quantity in the present day, simply actually helped me with the putts as properly.”
Vu fell out of the highest spot on this planet when Korda gained 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 help – it simply feels very comfy,” she stated. “I am staying at residence 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, per week after lacking a birdie putt that may 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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