LOS ANGELES — Jessica Korda rode out a collection of massive momentum shifts Friday at historic Wilshire Nation Membership to carry onto the lead within the HUGEL Air Premia LA Open.
Six strokes forward after three holes, tied with top-ranked Jin Younger Ko on the flip and two pictures again with three to play, Korda birdied the ultimate two holes to take a one-stroke lead into the ultimate spherical.
“I am simply attempting to be affected person,” Korda mentioned. “It is powerful. It is powerful to win out right here. Nonetheless have 18 holes left and I simply wish to give myself a chance to win.”
Korda shot a Three-under 68 to interrupt the match 54-hole file at 16 beneath. She matched the occasion course file with a 64 on Wednesday and shot a bogey-free 65 on Thursday to interrupt the 36-hole scoring file at 13 beneath.
“Truthfully, it is simply hitting it in the fitting spots,” Korda mentioned. “Pins have been undoubtedly harder right this moment than they’ve been the final two days, extra tucked, so it was onerous to be aggressive on numerous them.”
Ko shot a 66, making a 30-foot bogey putt on the par-Three 18th after driving over the inexperienced and watching her second bang into the financial institution and roll again to her ft.
“I knew that she was going to return out and play nice,” Korda mentioned. “That is what she does being world No. 1. You would not count on something much less. I used to be simply attempting to play my very own recreation, and that is precisely what I’ll attempt to do tomorrow.”
Korda matched Ko with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 15th, then hit to three ft for a birdie on the par-Four 17th and to 2 ft on 18. She received the season-opening Diamond Resorts Event of Champions in January for her sixth LPGA Tour title.
Korda birdied the primary three holes to open the six-stroke lead, hitting to a foot on Nos. 2 and three. She parred the following 5 and bogeyed the par-Four ninth to fall right into a tie with Ko. Korda additionally bogeyed Nos. 11 and 13 earlier than rallying late.
“It was powerful,” Korda mentioned. “As soon as we hit that mark of no motion for about 20 minutes, it was simply actually, actually sluggish and it was onerous for he to achieve my momentum again. I used to be nonetheless hitting actually good pictures. I simply did not have any alternatives. I used to be form of at all times above the opening, and attempting to nestle one thing down near the opening is hard whenever you’re attempting to make birdies.”
Ko had six birdies and a bogey in a front-nine 30. She bogeyed Nos. 10 and 11 and birdied Nos. 13-15. The seven-time LPGA Tour winner is coming off a two-week break after ending seventh within the main ANA Inspiration.
Brooke Henderson obtained a spot alongside Korda and Ko within the remaining group Saturday, capturing a 67 to get to 12 beneath. The Canadian birdied Nos. 15-17, then had a 7-foot birdie attempt slide left on 18. She rebounded from a double bogey on No. 6.
“I believe when you have got unhealthy holes like that it is actually essential to simply keep affected person and hold doing what you are doing,” Henderson mentioned. “I did not actually do something unsuitable. Simply form of one shot obtained away from us and ended up making an enormous quantity. So simply tried to remain within the second and proceed to hit good pictures.”
Angela Stanford was 11 beneath after a 68, and So Yeon Ryu and Hannah Inexperienced every shot 69 to get to 9 beneath. Morgan Pressel had a 66 to match Tiffany Chan (70) at eight beneath.
Sei Younger Kim, taking part in alongside Ko and Korda within the remaining group, had a 76 to fall right into a tie for 18th at Four beneath. She closed together with her second double bogey of the day.
Korda broke the 54-hole mark of 11 beneath set by Minjee Lee in her 2019 victory. Lee holds the 72-hole mark of 14 beneath within the occasion that was first performed in 2018 and was canceled final 12 months.