Rookie Korda grabs lead
Roswell’s Piller three shots back at Marathon Classic
SYLVANIA, Ohio — Nelly Korda birdied the final two holes for a 5-under 66 and a two-stroke lead Saturday in the Marathon Classic.
The 18-year-old Korda, the sister of LPGA Tour winner Jessica Korda and daughter of tennis major champion Petr Korda, had a 15-under 198 total at Highland Meadows. She opened with a 68 and had a 64 on Friday, the best score in the second round.
“There’s still 18 more holes and a lot of golf left to be played, so I’m just going to stay patient and see how it goes,” Korda said. “Not really going to think about it too much. I’m not going to get ahead of myself. I’ve done that a couple times this year, and I’m just going to take it shot by shot.”
Korda closed with three straight birdies Friday, and also birdied the par-5 18th on Thursday in a round that ended with a birdie on No. 9.
“When you end on a birdie, you’re just really excited to play the next day and get it going, so I’m definitely excited,” Korda said. In-Kyung Kim was second after a 68. “I’ve been very consistent with my drive and second shot,” Kim said. “It is kind of tricky to hit hybrids into the greens and all of a sudden hitting wedge into the greens. That change was difficult. But other than that, I feel really good about playing this golf course. I’ve always liked this golf course.”
Roswell’s Gerina Piller, the leader after each of the first two rounds, had a 70 to drop into a tie for third at 12 under with U.S. Women’s Open champion Sung Hyun Park (67), Lexi Thompson (69), Sandra Changkija (65), Aditi Ashok (68) and Peiyun Chien (69).
“I’m not hitting the ball flight I would like,” Thompson said. “I’m actually hitting a little cut out there, but it’s just getting me around. I hit it very solid the last few days, so a lot of positives to take from it.”
Piller rallied with birdies on Nos. 15 and 17.
“There’s no need to fix something that ain’t broke,” Piller said. “The putts just didn’t fall for me today, but my game feels great. Got it back to under par, which was huge, after being 1 over at the turn. Just looking forward to tomorrow, having some fun, and making some birdies.”
Korda expected some simple advice from her sister.
“She’ll probably just be like, ‘Breathe a lot and go to sleep,’ ” Korda said.
PGA: In Opelika, Ala., Scott Stallings birdied the final hole for an 11-under 60 and a one-stroke lead Saturday in the PGA Tour’s Barbasol Championship.
Stallings’ 12-foot putt on the par-4 18th caught the right edge and dropped in for the second 60 in two days at Grand National’s rain-softened Lake Course.
Stallings birdied the final three holes. He had an eagle, 10 birdies and a bogey to tie the course record set last year by Jhonattan Vegas and matched by Chad Collins on Friday.
Stallings had the lowest round of his PGA Tour career and broke the tournament 54-hole record at 19-under 194. He won the last of his three tour titles in 2014.
Grayson Murray was second after his second straight 64.
Collins followed his 60 with a 69 to drop into a tie for third with Tag Ridings (63) at 17 under.