Nelly Korda fired a 7-under 65 on Saturday to take a two-stroke lead entering the final round of the Mizuho Americas Open at Jersey City, N.J.
The solid round puts Korda in position to win for the sixth time in her past seven tournaments. She is at 13-under 203 after three rounds at Liberty National Golf Club.
Australia’s Hannah Green shot a blistering 63 to set the tournament record, while Japan’s Ayaka Furue (67 on Saturday) and Australia’s Gabriela Ruffels (68) are tied for third at 10-under 206.
Korda recorded seven birdies during a bogey-free round. She had four of them on the back nine.
“Earlier, when I started on the front nine there was zero wind,” Korda said. “It was actually really nice and warm out. Once we kind of got closer to the water, the wind started to pick up and started to drizzle and got a lot colder.
“Really solid day of golf off the tee, into the greens, and putting, too. Took my chances where I could.”
Korda won five straight tournaments earlier this season to tie the record shared by Hall of Famers Nancy Lopez (1978) and Annika Sorenstam (2004-05). Her streak ended by tying for seventh at the Cognizant Founders Cup last weekend.
Green carded nine birdies during her impressive round. She made six during an eight-hole stretch of the back nine and also avoided any bogeys.
“Yeah, felt very easy,” Green said. “I guess I hit 17 greens and missed a few fairways, but actually hit it really close, so it was really nice to actually not have to stress about trying to make pars today.
“But it did feel like autopilot for a little bit there, which is very nice. So, yeah, now I put myself hopefully in contention for Sunday.”
Second-round leader Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand struggled to a 74 on Saturday, one day after posting a stellar 65. Thitikul is now tied for 15th place.
She made two of her three birdies on Nos. 16 and 18. But in between was a double-bogey at the par-4, No. 17. She had three bogeys earlier in the round — back-to-back at 7 and 8 and another at 13.
Meanwhile, Furue made six birdies against one bogey. Three of the birdies came over the final five holes as she put herself in contention.
Ruffels started her round with four straight birdies and had another on 8. She had a bogey on 13.
“It was pretty good, considering I started with four birdies in a row,” Ruffels said of her start. “You know, I kind of maybe wanted a little bit lower than that. I feel like also on this golf course you can’t get greedy — 4-under is a good round and I would’ve taken it at the start of the day.
“Overall made some good par saves as well out there, so I feel like I kind of, I guess, deserve that score.”
Germany’s Sophia Popov (67), Thailand’s Pajaree Anannarukarn (68) and Jennifer Kupcho (67) are tied for fifth at 9-under 208.
Bailey Tardy, who tied for fourth place at the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open, has shot consecutive 67s and is tied for 15th at 207.
–Field Level Media
