{"id":47756,"date":"2017-07-25T03:12:50","date_gmt":"2017-07-25T03:12:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thefastfashion.com\/?p=47756"},"modified":"2017-07-25T03:12:50","modified_gmt":"2017-07-25T03:12:50","slug":"nelly-korda-18-takes-marathon-classic-lead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thefastfashion.com\/?p=47756","title":{"rendered":"Nelly Korda, 18, takes Marathon Classic lead"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nelly Korda birdied the final two holes for a 5-under 66 and a two-stroke lead Saturday in the Marathon Classic.<\/p>\n

The 18-year-old Korda, the sister of LPGA Tour winner Jessica Korda and daughter of tennis major champion Petr Korda, had a 15-under 198 total at Highland Meadows. She opened with a 68 and had a 64 on Friday, the best score in the second round.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s still 18 more holes and a lot of golf left to be played, so I\u2019m just going to stay patient and see how it goes,\u201d Korda said. \u201cNot really going to think about it too much. I\u2019m not going to get ahead of myself. I\u2019ve done that a couple times this year, and I\u2019m just going to take it shot by shot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Korda closed with three straight birdies Friday, and also birdied the par-5 18th on Thursday in a round that ended with a birdie on No. 9.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWhen you end on a birdie, you\u2019re just really excited to play the next day and get it doing, so I\u2019m definitely excited,\u201d Korda said.<\/p>\n

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In-Kyung Kim was second after a 68.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been very consistent with my drive and second shot,\u201d Kim said. \u201cIt is kind of tricky to hit hybrids into the greens and all of a sudden hitting wedge into the greens. That change was difficult. But other than that, I feel really good about playing this golf course. I\u2019ve always liked this golf course.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gerina Piller, the leader after each of the first two rounds, had a 70 to drop into a tie for third at 12 under with U.S. Women\u2019s Open champion Sung Hyun Park (67), Lexi Thompson (69), Sandra Changkija (65), Aditi Ashok (68) and Peiyun Chien (69).<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not hitting the ball flight I would like,\u201d Thompson said. \u201cI\u2019m actually hitting a little cut out there, but it\u2019s just getting me around. I hit it very solid the last few days, so a lot of positives to take from it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Piller rallied with birdies on Nos. 15 and 17.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no need to fix something that ain\u2019t broke,\u201d Piller said. \u201cThe putts just didn\u2019t fall for me today, but my game feels great. Got it back to under par, which was huge, after being 1 over at the turn. Just looking forward to tomorrow, having some fun, and making some birdies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lydia Ko, winless since her victory last year at Highland Meadows, was tied for 19th at 7 under after a 65. She also won the 2014 event.<\/p>\n

Korda is in her first year on the tour.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s so many good young players out here on tour that I don\u2019t even feel like I\u2019m 18, truthfully,\u201d said Korda, who will be 19 on Friday. \u201cBut it\u2019s really cool and I\u2019m definitely excited for tomorrow. \u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve learned a lot my rookie year out here. It\u2019s definitely to stay patient and really to take it shot by shot. I\u2019ve been in a couple positions where I\u2019ve been on top of the leaderboard, and I just really got ahead of myself, started thinking too far ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adv<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n