BRADENTON, Fla. — Yealimi Noh birdied eight of the final 11 holes for an 8-under 63 and a one-stroke lead Saturday over three-time champion Jin Younger Ko within the Founders Cup.
After gusting wind slowed the gamers on the opening holes at Bradenton Nation Membership, Noh and Ko every made their first birdie of the day on the par-5 eighth.
“That begin was a bit of gradual, however I used to be hitting it stable, making some good putts,” stated Noh, the 23-year-old California participant chasing her first LPGA Tour victory. “I simply instructed myself to be affected person and simply await one to drop after which go on from there, and it did.”
Attempting to win the occasion on a fourth venue, Ko birdied 5 of the ultimate 11 for a 66.
“We had gusting within the entrance 9, so it was onerous to play,” Ko stated. “After entrance 9, yeah, we made a whole lot of birdies, particularly Yealimi. We had a lot enjoyable. I did my greatest at the moment. Just a few putts like was simply sneaky, so I’d say I saved for tomorrow.”
Ko received the event that honors the tour’s founders in 2019 at Desert Ridge in Phoenix, 2021 at Mountain Ridge in New Jersey and 2023 in a playoff at Higher Montclair, additionally in New Jersey. The 29-year-old South Korean participant has 15 LPGA Tour victories.
Noh had an 18-under 195 whole. She opened with a 68 and shot 64 on Friday to get into the ultimate group with Ko.
“I feel my tempo has been superior this week,” Noh stated. “It has been the most effective that it is ever been. I have been actually staying affected person all through not solely the spherical, however all through my swing.”
After the breakthrough birdie on No. 8, Noh birdied the subsequent two, added one other on 12 and adopted with birdie bursts on Nos. 14-15 and 17-18. She leads the sector with 21 birdies, with the 63 matching her greatest spherical on tour.
“I actually wish to concentrate on myself is what I at all times inform myself,” Noh stated. “Simply preserve it like at the moment. Simply actually, actually prioritize my tempo tomorrow. With any sort of nerves and pleasure it might get a bit of fast for me, so simply actually gradual every little thing down and take it within the current.”
American Megan Khang shot a career-best 62 to interrupt Ko’s day-old course file. Khang was tied for third with Jin Hee Im of South Korea at 13-under.
“Every thing felt sort of dialed in at the moment,” Khang stated. “I used to be undoubtedly joyful that putts had been beginning to drop and hopefully it continues tomorrow.
Im shot 68.
High-ranked Nelly Korda was one other stroke again in her hometown occasion after a 65 highlighted by a chip-in birdie on No. 9. She received a Drive On event on the course final 12 months for the primary of her seven 2024 victories.
“Rising up on this sort of old-school Florida grass helps as a result of it’s robust to sort of hit it off,” Korda stated.
Hannah Inexperienced of Australia additionally was 12 below, capturing 66.
