Before the third round was suspended due to high winds, World No. 2 Nelly Korda shot an 8-under-par 64 to vault into the lead at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions on Saturday in Orlando, Fla.
Korda, who is seeking her first LPGA Tour victory since November 2024, sat in a tie for eighth through two rounds but is now at 13-under 203 and is the clubhouse leader pending those in contention finishing 54 holes.
With the 17th hole unplayable due to high winds, LPGA officials suspended the third round at 4:18 p.m. ET. The LPGA announced Saturday evening that the third round will resume and the final round will begin concurrently at 10 a.m. Sunday.
A native of Florida, Korda occasionally wore earmuffs and gloves Saturday, but the weather didn’t affect her performance, especially early in the round.
“I started off great,” Korda said. “Birdied the first two holes and then made an eagle from the fairway on No. 3, so I can’t complain ever starting my round like that.”
Korda added five more birdies and only ran into trouble on the par-3 17th hole, notching her lone bogey of the day.
“I knew the conditions were going to be tough, so getting off to a good start like that really helped,” she said. “Overall, just stayed really focused and super committed on my lines. It’s really easy to doubt yourself and your lines in winds and conditions like this.”
Amy Yang finished 16 holes and currently sits in second place at 10 under, followed by fellow South Korean Youmin Hwang (16 holes) and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko (15 holes) — a three-time major champion — who are tied for third at 8 under.
Canada’s Brooke M. Henderson (66) sits alone in fifth. Beginning her round on the back nine, she notched seven birdies and only one bogey, which came on the par-4 No. 8 hole. She then birdied the last hole to complete her best round of the tournament and sits at 7-under 209.
“My shot into 18 I was really pleased with,” Henderson said. “That’s not an easy shot at any time, and then the wind was coming left-to-right off the lake and pin was kind of on the left side there, so happy to hit it in there pretty close and then make the putt for birdie.”
Japan’s Miyu Yamashita (68) also completed the third round and is currently tied for sixth at 5 under with countrywoman Nasa Hataoka and England’s Lottie Woad, who each have two holes remaining.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand endured a tough day, sitting alone in ninth at 4-under after shooting a sloppy 1-over round with four bogeys and three birdies.
Rose Zhang is among five players tied for 10th after her 2-under Saturday showing left her at 3-under through three rounds.
–Field Level Media
