Jessica Korda shot a record-tying round of 64 on Wednesday at Wilshire Country Club, and will enter the second day of the HUGEL AIR-PREMIA LA Open with a one-shot lead.
Korda finished her first day at the historic L.A. golf club with eight birdies against one bogey to reach 7 under, one clear of Moriya Jutanugarn and Tiffany Chan.
“I was lucky enough that I was hitting the ball well last week (in Hawaii). I just wasn’t making any putts, and so I was kind of just taking that mentality into this week. Like if I can maybe drop some putts I can have a good round,” said Korda, who finished T48 at last week’s LOTTE Championship.
“But out here it’s tough. This isn’t an easy golf course at all. I was lucky to be able to position myself in the right spots off the tee and take advantage of the short putts that I did have for birdie.”
Despite Korda’s record-tying round, it is Jutanugarn who will more likely enter the second round with the most momentum. The Thai, who was 4-over through five holes, played her final 13 holes on 10-under par, which featured a run of six birdies in her middle portion, then three straight on her closing set to reach 6 under 65.
“I will say it’s pretty fun day today. It’s kind of really like a roller coaster. I started with double par, bogey, something like that on the first six holes,” said Jutanugarn.
“I started to make some putts and then I had a lot more chance today because I hit it a lot more like closer. When I start to make a little bit more putts, then it’s kind of make me having a fun day.”
Chan, meanwhile, reached 65 the more conventional way: with one bogey offset by seven birdies, including run of four straight on Nos. 5-8.
“My goal was to try not to be too aggressive because it’s my home course so I know the course really well,” said Chan, who attended USC, and considers Wilshire her home course. “So I still tried to be a little more conservative.”
Five players were T4 on 5 under, headlined by Jessica’s sister, Nelly Korda, and Austin Ernst.
World No. 1 Jin Young Ko was T9 on 4 under while defending champion Minjee Lee opened with a 1-under 70 to sit T43.
2021 HUGEL AIR-PREMIA LA Open
Top-5 Leaders: Round 1
Pos-Player-To Par-(Score)
1. Jessica Korda -7 (64)
2. Moriya Jutanugarn -6 (65)
2. Tiffany Chan -6 (65)
4. Dana Finkelstein -5 (66)
4. Su Oh -5 (66)
4. Carlota Ciganda -5 (66)
4. Austin Ernst -5 (66)
4. Nelly Korda -5 (66)
Watch Jessica Korda Score 64 at LPGA L.A. Open
Material from the LPGA Tour Communications was used to compile this report.
