AMERICAN HOTSHOT
Korda four ahead after record 62 in Pattaya
>> PATTAYA: American Jessica Korda broke the course record on day two of the US$1.6 million (approximately 51 million baht) Honda LPGA Thailand with a stunning 10-under 62 yesterday to open a four-stroke lead over the chasing pack.
Local favourite Moriya Jutanugarn, who was among the leaders after the first round, was seven shots off the pace after a 69 while Ariya, who matched her big sister’s score, was two strokes further back.
The 24-year-old Korda, who is making her season debut after jaw surgery, made eight birdies and a closing eagle to post an aggregate score of 16-under 128 at Siam Country Club Old Course.
“I struggle on this course every year, but this year I have a whole new outlook with everything I’m doing,” said Korda. “It’s awesome. I was just trying to give myself a chance. It was pretty cool, a pretty cool round.
“Today was pretty special. Just had a lot of fun doing it,” added Korda, who is in position to claim her first title since her victory at the 2015 Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia.
Korda was trailed by compatriot Brittany Lincicome, an eight-time tour winner who stood in second at 12-under 132, followed by Australia’s Minjee Lee who was one shot behind in third.
“It was great out there, me, Jess [Korda] and Brooke [Henderson] were doing well and feeding off each other,” said Lincicome. “It’s nice to see the ball going straight and the ball going in since it’s only my second event of the year.”
Another US star Lexi Thompson, who won the event in 2016 by six shots with a 20-under total and was tied for fourth last year, was fourth on 10-under 134 after a 68.
Thompson made a flurry of birdies during the middle of her second round to stay close to Korda, but received a two-stroke penalty for moving a temporary immovable obstruction on 15 and slipped to 10 under from 12 under.
World No.21 Moriya had another bogey-free day but with only three birdies slipped down the leaderboard to finish tied for fifth alongside Michelle Wie (67) of the US, Canada’s Brooke Henderson (68), American Megan Khang (69) and South Korea’s Amy Yang (69) on nine-under 135.
Moriya, who is still looking for her first win on the LPGA Tour, was two strokes ahead of the eighth-ranked younger sister Ariya, whose round of 69 put her at joint 10th with Chinese world No.1 Feng Shanshan (68), Denmark’s Nicole Broch Larsen (67) and Spain’s Azahara Munoz (68) at sevenunder 137.
Moriya picked up her third birdie of the day with a 12-foot putt on 16 to move to nine under while Ariya also had a bogey-free round with three birdies on 1, 7 and 15.
Another Thai star Pornanong Phatlum stayed in the mix with her second straight 69. The 28-year-old was tied for 14th along with US duo Austin Ernst (67) and Danielle Kang (70).