Korda Up by One in Mobile


Jessica Korda followed up her opening 6-under 66 with a 7-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead in the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic. The 72-hole, $1.2 million tournament began Thursday at The Crossings Course at Magnolia Grove - a stop on Alabama's Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail - in Mobile.

After carding eight birdies and a bogey in the opening round, Korda, a 20-year-old from Bradenton, Fla., tacked on seven more birdies Friday to reach 13-under 131, one stroke ahead of Australian Karrie Webb, who had a nine-birdie 63, and two ahead of South Korean Chella Choi (66).

Three strokes behind Korda are two players from Thailand, Thidapa Suwannapura (67) and Pornanong Phatlum (65), and American Sydnee Michaels, who established a new course record with a 10-under 62.

Michaels was thrilled with her performance Friday, which included eight birdies and an eagle on the par-5 sixth hole. "It feels so good to finally have a good round because I've been struggling the last few weeks,'' she said. "I'm going through some swing changes. The week off last week I just said, you know what, I'm just going to go back to what feels good. So I hit a lot of balls and got back to where I was feeling good over the ball again and so it feels so good to finally have a good round."

Tied for seventh at 135 are first-round co-leader Lexi Thompson -who followed up her opening 65 with a 70, Spain's Azahara Munoz (64), Mina Harigae (68), and another Thai, Ariya Jutanugarn (66).

Thompson's fellow co-leader after 18 holes, Eun-Hee Ji of South Korea, posted an even-par 72 to drop into a tie for 15th at 137.

Defending champion Stacy Lewis posted her second straight 70 and is tied for 35th.

The cut was set at even-par 144. Among those heading home is Michelle Wie, who shot rounds of 74 and 75.

For complete scoring details, visit www.lpga.com.