THE WOODLANDS, Texas — Yan Liu had an albatross to offset three front-nine bogeys and rebounded from a late bogey for an even-par 72 and a one-stroke lead over 4 gamers Friday within the Chevron Championship, the primary ladies’s main event of the 12 months.
Prime-ranked Nelly Korda rallied late within the afternoon to make the reduce in her title protection, following a gap 77 with a 68. She received final 12 months at The Membership at Carlton Woods for the final of her record-tying 5 straight victories.
She used a distinct putter Friday.
“I putted for an hour and a half after the spherical yesterday, so simply wanted one thing completely different,” Korda mentioned. “Generally that is all you want.”
Fog delayed the beginning of play, with 9 gamers unable to complete the spherical due to darkness.
Liu, the 27-year-old Chinese language participant who shared the first-round lead with Haeran Ryu after a 65, admitted she would really feel some strain Saturday.
“I believe, undoubtedly, I’ll really feel slightly bit, as a result of, nicely, that is main,” Liu mentioned. “I do know the course goes to be more durable, more durable, so I believe I simply keep affected person, calm as a result of I am very emotional particular person.”
Hyo Joo Kim (71) was a stroke again with Lindy Duncan (66), Sarah Schmelzel (68) and Mao Saigo (68). Kim received the Ford Championship a month in the past in Arizona for her seventh LPGA Tour title, whereas the opposite 4 gamers on the prime of the leaderboard are winless.
Liu holed her 175-yard second shot on the 505-yard, downwind par-5 eighth with a 7-iron for the albatross.
“I noticed the ball go in, in order that’s actually cool factor,” Liu mentioned. “However I believe they do not have video for that gap. Little unhappy.”
Liu then bogeyed No. 9 and opened the again 9 with seven pars. She dropped right into a six-way tied for the lead with a bogey on the par-3 seventeenth. Her tee shot hopped left into fluffy Bermuda tough, she chunked her second to the perimeter and missed a 15-foot par strive.
She obtained the stroke again with a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th, ending about an hour earlier than sundown.
“Final gap, is my first birdie immediately,” Liu mentioned. “I am glad I made it.
Ryu had a 74 to fall two strokes again in a bunch with Angel Yin (70) , Manon De Roey (71) and Hye-Jin Choi (71). Weiwei Zhang additionally was 5 underneath with three holes left when play was suspended.
Lexi Thompson was 4 underneath, following a gap 73 with a 67. The 30-year-old Florida participant retired from full-time play on the finish of final season.
“I am nonetheless working towards and coaching,” Thompson mentioned. “I like figuring out. I am nonetheless striving to be higher for after I do tee it up as a result of each time I tee it up I nonetheless need to win. It is not like I am simply going out right here to point out face. I am nonetheless very aggressive, however simply making an attempt to benefit from the few instances I’ll play.”
She received the 2014 occasion — then the Kraft Nabisco Championship — at Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage, California.
