Top-ranked Korda shares LPGA Americas lead in repeat bid

Defending champion Nelly Korda birdied three of her last five holes, thriving in rain while rivals struggled, to share the lead after Friday’s second round of the LPGA Mizuho Americas Open.

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Top-ranked Korda, who won seven times last year but seeks her first title of 2025, fired a four-under par 68 to stand alongside South Korean Lee So-Mi and American Andrea Lee on eight-under 136 after 36 holes at Liberty National in New Jersey.

“Just have to really dial into everything that you're doing in these conditions with it kind of being on and off rain and getting colder and some wind,” Korda said.

“We did a really good job with that.”

World No.2 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand was in a second-place pack on 137 that also included France's Celine Boutier, Australian Stephanie Kyriacou, Spain's Carlota Ciganda and Julia Lopez Ramirez and American Jenny Bae.

“It was tough but I was excepting it to be a lot tougher,” Boutier said. “When it came down it came down pretty hard, so that was a bit tough. I think the toughest part was how cold it got at the end. Hands were getting pretty stiff and cold.”