Australian golf’s rising star Grace Kim kept it simple in the second round of The Annika at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, and it worked a treat.
The 24-year-old fired a four-under 66 on Friday to share the lead at nine under at the halfway mark in the tournament with Linn Grant (63), after a hot mid-round spell where she made three birdies in a row.
Kim is enjoying a breakout season on the tour after winning the Evian Championship in France in July for her first major title and helping Australia win the recent International Crown.
She kept her game plan simple after being one off the pace overnight.
“I just kind of kept my mojo going,” Kim said.” Just hit lots of fairways and tried to make a lot of putts.
“It helped probably I hit a few more close today, making more easier birdies. I guess, just stayed in my lane really.”
The Australian opened up a three-shot lead at one stage with birdies on the first, seventh, ninth, 10th and 11th, before her only bogey of the day at the par-5 14th halted the charge.
Then there was Grant, who made her move with a seven-under 63.
“Very, very solid. I hit some really good shots,” said Grant, the Swede who won the 2023 Dana Open for her lone LPGA Tour title. “Tee to green today was very good. I felt like I played similar yesterday but I just couldn’t get the putts to go in, and today a lot of them went in.”
First-round leader Haeran Ryu followed her opening 64 with a 68 to drop into a tie for third with Jennifer Kupcho (66) at eight under. Gaby Lopez was seven under after a 64.
Defending champion Nelly Korda (63) birdied the last three holes to get to six under, along with Auston Kim (65), Carlota Ciganda (65) and Lauren Coughlin (66).
“I just capitalised on my good shots.” Korda said. “I actually didn’t play bad yesterday at all. I just went to the range after and then to the putting green and just kind of told myself that, ‘it’s a fresh day and you never know what’s going to happen.'”
Korda won the tournament last year to become the first player in 13 years to win seven times in a season. She has yet to win this year.
The top 60 in the Race to CME Globe qualify for the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship next week, where all 60 can win the $2 million ($A3.05m) prize.
Australian Karis Davidson, No 73 in the standings, rocketed up the leaderboard to tied 15th after shooting a 63 – the joint best round of the day.
Davidson had eight birdies and a lone bogey, her four-under total matching Hannah Green (70-66), who is No.39 in the standings.
They are one better than No.71 Gabriella Ruffels (69-68), who is in a tie for 21st and one ahead of compatriot Robyn Choi (71-67) – No.66 in the standings.
Kai Trump, the granddaughter of US president Donald Trump who is playing on a sponsor exemption, followed her opening 83 with a 75. At 18 over, the high-school senior finished last in the 108-player field by six strokes.
with AP
https://thewest.com.au/sport/golf/aussie-grace-kim-maintains-mojo-to-lead-the-annika-c-20685224
