Hye-Jin Choi overcame a shaky start to join a three-way tie for the lead at The Annika on Friday, putting herself in position to secure her first LPGA Tour victory after 127 attempts, “according to Yahoo Sports.”
Choi finished with a 3-under 67 at the Pelican Golf Club, rebounding from two early bogeys with a late 15-foot eagle putt.
She shares the top spot at 12-under 128 with Carlota Ciganda, who surged with four consecutive birdies to card a 63, and Lindy Duncan, who shot a 66.
Nelly Korda, the world No. 1, remains four shots off the lead after finishing her round with a 69, a performance she described as frustratingly clean.
Korda, who is competing for the first time in two months, managed 15 straight pars and noted the difficulty of the greens, “I had a lot of chances,” said Korda, as reported by Yahoo Sports.”
The course conditions, particularly the speed of the Bermuda grass, served as a primary defense against low scoring during the afternoon, “the outlets reported.”
For Choi, the weekend presents a critical opportunity to break her winless streak, a journey that has included several high-profile runner-up finishes.
She remains focused on maintaining her composure, noting, “I have two rounds left, but I have recently played in a champion group on the tournament before, so I have that experience,” according to Yahoo Sports.”
Duncan, who is seeking her first tour win, has maintained steady momentum despite a grueling travel schedule across Asia and Japan.
She expressed satisfaction with her rhythm, stating, “The week has gone by really fast, which is sometimes a good thing,” per Yahoo Sports.”
The event serves as the final regular-season tournament, with the top 60 players in the Race to the CME Globe advancing to the finale in Naples.
Japanese golfers Mao Saigo and Minami Katsu currently sit two shots behind the leaders as the field prepares for the final two rounds of play, “as noted by AP golf coverage.”