Korda keeps lead at LPGA Drive On

Reigning Olympic champion Nelly Korda eagled the 17th hole and birdied the last to seize a four-stroke lead after Saturday’s (Sunday in Manila) third round of the LPGA Drive On Championship.

The 25-year-old hometown hero and daughter of former Australian Open tennis champion Petr Korda finished with a flourish to fire a three-under par 68 and stand on 13-under 200 after 54 holes at Bradenton Country Club.

Clinging to a one-stroke lead at the par-5 17th, Korda blasted out of a greenside bunker, her shot rolling in for an eagle.

At 18, Korda had a testy breaking birdie putt from 15 feet and rolled it into the hole for a four-stroke advantage.

“Just a confidence boost knowing I can climb up the leaderboard and stay in contention,” Korda said.

“Definitely didn’t have the great start. I was one back after nine holes and then kind of turned it around.”

New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, Japan’s Ayaka Furue and American Megan Khang shared second on 204.

World number four Korda, who led by two after 36 holes, birdied the par-5 sixth but stumbled with bogeys at the par-3 seventh and par-5 eighth.

Korda birdied the 13th to seize a one-stroke lead, setting up her late heroics.

“I was hitting good solid putts. Just with the wind it was hard to judge,” Korda said. “Birdied the par-5 then snap hooked my next two tee shots, which ended up both of them being bogeys.

“And then just had a fresh attitude coming into the back nine. I mean, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. Hopefully I can lead that into tomorrow.”

Korda seeks her ninth career LPGA title and first since the 2022 Pelican Women’s Championship. Her last worldwide crown came last year in a Ladies European Tour event in London.