Korda takes 1-shot lead over qualifier Park
Jessica Korda climbed into the lead Friday at Lake Merced, but she didn’t seem terribly impressed with herself.
“Honestly, there are still two long days ahead, still 36 holes left,” Korda said.
She shot 67, in the wake of an opening-round 68, to reach the weekend at 9-under-par in the LPGA Mediheal Championship. Korda will begin play Saturday one stroke ahead of Annie Park (66 on Friday), with Charley Hull (68) two back and Lydia Ko (70) three behind.
Korda, 25, is a five-time winner on tour, including her victory in Thailand in February. She’s ranked No. 12 in the world.
She shot 32 on the front nine Friday, propelled by her strong tee shots. Korda, who stands 5-11, ranks ninth on the LPGA Tour in driving distance this season, averaging 274.3 yards.
Park goes low: Park counted as an improbable candidate to conquer rugged Lake Merced. She’s a 23-year-old from New York who doesn’t have LPGA status and arrived in the Bay Area without a spot in this week’s field.
Park played on the LPGA Tour the past two years, only to battle a back injury and ultimately lose her card. She began this season on the Symetra Tour, the equivalent of Triple-A for women’s golf, and posted top-five finishes in her first two starts.
But she needed to advance through Monday qualifying simply to earn her place in the field at Lake Merced. She did exactly that, surviving a onehole playoff.
Park, who enjoyed a standout college career at USC — she was the 2013 NCAA individual champion — didn’t immediately duplicate her success upon turning pro.
“It was a hard transition from college to professional,” she said. “But I like traveling and being on tour playing golf, doing what I love, so it’s the dream.”
Friday’s round was an exhibit in steadiness and accuracy. Park hit 13 of 14 fairways, needed only 24 putts and made seven birdies (and one bogey) to post the low round of the tournament.
Briefly: Juli Inkster shot 71 to reach the weekend at 1-under, good enough to make the cut for the first time in her five starts this season . ... Australian Minjee Lee, in contention after two rounds of 70, won the 2012 U.S. Girls Junior at Lake Merced . ... Among the players to miss the cut were 12-time LPGA winner Stacy Lewis and 10-time winner Paula Creamer.