Nelly Korda fires 66 to take lead at LPGA Classic

6/18/2022 8:57:42 PM EST

Defending champion Nelly Korda carded two eagles en route to shooting a 6-under-par 66 on Saturday in the third round of the Meijer LPGA Classic in Belmont, Mich.

Korda, who sits at 18 under, flip-flopped places with first- and second-round leader Jennifer Kupcho atop the leaderboard. Kupcho shot 69 on Saturday to sit in second place, one shot back.

Canada's Brooke Henderson shot 67 and has sole possession of third three shots back at 15 under. Lexi Thompson (68) is in fourth place at 14 under.

Korda opened with six straight pars before going birdie-eagle on the next two holes. She also eagled No. 18. Korda missed about four months of the season due to a blood clot in her arm and is playing her second tournament since coming back.

"I just kind of went about it. I knew that I had enough practice under my belt and it was just more of like can I put that into tournament golf kind of play," Korda said. "So far, you know, I've played pretty well and hopefully I can continue. I mean, there is still 18 more holes, still a lot more golf to be played. I'm just happy to be out there playing again."

Kupcho finished with four birdies against one bogey to remain in the hunt.

"I wasn't playing as well as I thought I should," Kupcho said. "I think after a little bit of a rough start, missed a couple fairways, I kind of set a goal for myself to shoot 3-under and I did do that. So glad to have done that. Obviously not exactly what I wanted, but it works."

--Field Level Media

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