England’s Charley Hull grabs lead over world No. 1 Nelly Korda at LPGA Annika
MIAMI – England’s Charley Hull fired a four-under 66 to grab a two-stroke lead over top-ranked Nelly Korda after the darkness-halted second round of The Annika LPGA tournament on Nov 15.
Hull, who shared the 18-hole lead, made five birdies against a lone bogey to stay on top at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida.
“I felt like I was playing pretty well. It was quite windy, so quite tricky. I just feel like I’m playing pretty solid. Just feel quite confident,” the world No. 12 said.
Korda, who has won six LPGA events in 2024, also shot 66 to stand on eight-under 132 in her first event after a neck injury sidelined her in October. She is looking forward to playing alongside Hull on Nov 16.
“She’s always a fun time. Hopefully, we give a good show,” the 26-year-old American said.
Hull, a two-time LPGA winner seeking her first tour victory since October 2022, won her fourth Ladies European Tour title – and first in three years – on Nov 3 at Riyadh.
The 28-year-old Englishwoman is ready to play alongside Korda in the third round, saying: “I like playing with Nelly. She makes loads of birdies, so good fun to watch.”
Three golfers had yet to complete their second round when darkness halted play. They will finish on Nov 16 before the cut is made and the third round begins.
Hull birdied the second and fourth holes before a bogey at the fifth, then began the back nine with a birdie and birdied the 13th and par-five 14th.
“You have a lot of wedges coming in. You have to be quite accurate with your shots and the greens are super fast. It’s a good, fun course to play,” she said.
Korda opened with a bogey at the 10th but followed with birdies at the 13th, 14th, 17th and closed with back-to-back birdies.
“I’m just comfortable. And then the more you play it, the more you kind of realise the subtle breaks on the greens, so you kind of learn time after time,” she said.
“Even with it being windy, tough conditions, I just kind of know the holes where you kind of have to be safe and the holes where you can be a little bit more aggressive on.”
Thailand’s Wichanee Meechai birdied five of the last eight holes to shoot 66 and share third on 133 with American Alexa Pano (64) and South Koreans Im Jin-hee (65) and Lee Mi-Hyang (68).
“If I can get my soul or my brain together, I think I could win the tournament,” Wichanee said.
Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy holds a three-way share of the lead in Dubai as he closed in on his goal of securing the DP World Tour Championship title and a third successive Race to Dubai crown.
The world No. 3 shot a four-under 68 in his third round on Nov 16 and was joined on 12-under 204 by Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard (66) and Antoine Rozner (69) of France.
McIlroy felt disappointed, having made six birdies through his first 12 holes, not to capitalise on good shots towards the end of his round, unable to take advantage at the par-five 14th and 18th holes. AFP
