World No. 1 Nelly Korda is closing in on a sixth LPGA Tour victory in seven starts after taking a two-shot lead heading into the final round of the Mizuho Americas Open in New Jersey.
Korda carded a seven-under 65 to move to 13 under and two ahead of Australian Hannah Green, who set a tournament record with a brilliant nine-under 63 at Liberty National Golf Club.
After watching Rose Zhang end her tour-record five-match Cognizant Founders Cup winning streak last week, Korda carded seven birdies in a bogey-free round to bolster her hopes of getting back on track to victory.
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Highlights from the final round of the Cognizant Founders Cup at Wildfire Golf Club.
Korda made three birdies on a 33rd front nine and added another at the par-five 10th, then posted three more in a four-hole stretch starting at the 13th to take the lead.
“A really good day of golf from the tee, on the greens and also putting,” Korda said. “I took my chances where I could.”
Green, whose two victories make her the only other multiple winner on the tour this year, took advantage of the calm and dry morning conditions to make six birdies in eight holes late in the round and secure a Sunday duet with Korda.
“Yes, it was very easy,” Green said. “I guess I hit 17 greens and missed a few fairways, but I actually hit it really close, so it was really nice to not have to stress out trying to make pars today. But I felt like I was on autopilot for a little while there, which is very nice. So, yeah, now I’m hopefully in contention for Sunday.”
Korda won five straight tournaments earlier this season to tie the record shared by Hall of Famers Nancy Lopez (1978) and Annika Sorenstam (2004-05), before finishing tied for seventh in her last start.
Ayaka Furue and Gabriela Ruffels share third place on 10 under ahead of Sophia Popov, Jennifer Kupcho and Pajaree Anannarukarn, while England’s Charley Hull dropped out of the competition after a three-over 75 dropped her to a tie for 51st.
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