BELLEAIR, Fla. (AP) — Charley Hull made five birdies Friday for a 4-under 66, giving him a two-shot lead and an extra day of off-season vacation, as well as a date the weekend with Nelly Korda at The Annika.
Hull, who won in Saudi Arabia two weeks ago to end a two-year winless drought, broke through with three birdies in a five-hole stretch on the back nine at Pelican Golf Club.
Korda, playing for the first time in nearly two months due to a minor neck injury, opened with a bogey and finished with back-to-back birdies in his round of 68. She was two shots behind and will be in the final group with Coque.
As for this vacation?
It turns out that Hull made a bet with her boyfriend that she could add an extra day to her European vacation for every round she made five birdies. She made seven birdies on Thursday.
“I played pretty solid,” Hull said. “It was very windy, so quite tricky. Yeah, I made five birdies today, so an extra day off.
Alexa Pano made nine birdies before her round ended with a double bogey. It was still pretty good for a 64 who left his three shots behind, alongside Jin Hee Im (65), Wichanee Meechai (66) and Mi Hyang Lee (68).
Pano is ranked 66th in the Race to CME Globe. This is the final tournament to be among the top 60 qualifiers for next week’s CME Group Tour Championship, where the winner of the season finale receives $4 million.
Lee is at #59 and has made a big move to ensure she is on the Gulf Coast in Naples.
But the weekend’s attention is at the top: Hull, the carefree character from England who has found a big dose of confidence, and Korda, the best in women’s golf who took the time to join other athletes posing for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.
“I always love playing with Charley. It’s always a fun time. I hope we put on a good show,” Korda said.
Hull was 10-under 130.
The wind was strong enough that Korda’s main focus was on trying to keep his shots on target. Add that to smooth greens, and she did well for another 66.
“They’re skilled, yeah. It’s almost like putting ice on it,” Korda said. “They do a very good job on the golf course, especially with the wind and the flow of the greens. I feel like when the greens get this firm and fast, the wind plays a bigger role in putting, because it just seems to play a little more with the putting.
Gabby Lopez of Mexico entered the week ranked 61st in the CME Globe race and posted a 66 to join the group tied for eighth at 5-under 135, five shots behind. Also at 135 was Carlota Ciganda, a Spanish Solheim Cup regular who sits in 63rd place.
The challenge this week is also to maintain a full LPGA card for the 100. Yuri Yoshida entered the week at No. 100 and missed the cut. Also missing was former major champion Hyo Joo Kim, who was 58th on the points list and may not make it to the final week.
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