Bradenton, Florida - Nelly Korda, the hometown favorite, is in a commanding position going into the final round of the LPGA Drive On Championship. Korda shot a solid 3-under 68 with an impressive eagle-birdie finish on Saturday, giving her a comfortable four-shot lead.
Despite facing challenging conditions, including 10-15 mph wind and temperatures in the upper 70s, Korda showed great resilience after making consecutive bogeys on the 7th and 8th holes. The support from the home crowd seemed to have a positive impact on her performance. Korda expressed her gratitude, saying, 'I'm actually kind of taken back with how much support I've been getting this week. Being in Florida, I always get a lot of support, but hometown, it's crazy. It's been nice seeing friends and family come out...feeling the support.'
With her impressive record of eight LPGA Tour victories, Korda's confidence is soaring as she sits at 13 under for the tournament. Reflecting on her performance, she said, 'It's a confidence boost knowing I can climb up the leaderboard and contend and stay in contention. Definitely didn't have the great start today.'
Coming off a recent victory in the Tournament of Champions, Lydia Ko proved to be a strong contender once again. Ko carded a 69, leaving her tied for second place along with Megan Khang, who shot a remarkable 66, and Ayaka Furue, who finished with a 69. All three golfers are at 9 under, trailing Korda by four shots.
The challenging windy conditions tested the skills of the players throughout the day. Ko commented on the wind, stating, 'It was really windy. It was almost as windy as the peak of the first day. It didn't really die down until we were pretty much on the last hole.'
As the final round approaches, all eyes will be on Nelly Korda as she aims to secure a wire-to-wire victory at the Bradenton Country Club. With a comfortable lead and tremendous hometown support, Korda looks poised to add another trophy to her collection. The battle for second place is also heating up, with Ko, Khang, and Furue all vying for a chance to challenge Korda's dominance.
Golf enthusiasts and fans alike are eagerly anticipating the conclusion of the LPGA Drive On Championship, which promises to offer thrilling final-round action.
