Michaels sets course record, but Korda leads

Michaels sets course record, but Korda leads










The Sports Xchange May 17, 2013 8:20 PMThe SportsXchange



MOBILE, Ala. -- Sydnee Michaels broke the course record by two shots during the second round of the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic on Friday. But it's Jessica Korda who holds the lead at Magnolia Grove heading into the third round.

Michaels shot even par in the first round, but put eight birdies and an eagle on her scorecard Friday for a 10-under-par 62.

Korda shot a 7-under 65 to move to 13 under for the tournament. The 20-year-old from Bradenton, Fla., is one stroke ahead of Karrie Webb. Webb shot a 9-under-par 63 on Friday - a score that would have broken the course record, except Michaels beat her to it in the morning.

Six players are at 10-under or better after two rounds. Stacy Lewis won last year's tournament at 17-under.

Chella Choi stands at 11-under, with a pair of golfers from Thailand -- Pornanong Phatlum and Thidapa Suwannapura -- at 10-under.

First-round co-leader Lexi Thompson is at 9-under after a second-round 70. An eagle on the par-5 16th got her under par on Friday.

Thompson shared Thursday's lead with Eun-Hee Ji. Ji finished where she started at 7-under.

Also at 9-under are Azahara Munoz, Ariya Jutanugarn and Mina Harigae.

Munoz holed out from the 18th fairway for an eagle on her way to an 8-under 64.

Jutanugarn is a 17-year-old playing on a sponsor exemption. She has not finished worse than fourth in her four LPGA outings and had a 6-under 66 in the second round.

Korda's seven-birdie second round came without a missed fairway in her second straight bogey-free round. The long-hitter played the four par-5 holes in 3-under on Friday. All her birdies have come on par-4 and par-5 holes.

Korda is in tournament competition for the first time since hurting her wrist while playing in the LPGA LOTTE Championship on April 20.

"Honestly, right now it's Friday," Korda said, "so I think the tournament starts on the back nine on Sunday. So right now, it's great to have the lead, and I feel good. I'm healthy, somewhat, so I'm happy just to be here and playing right now."

Webb had 25 putts in the second round. The Australian stood at 1-over with six holes to go in her first round on Thursday. She was 4-under over the final six holes on Thursday and 4-under over the final five holes on Friday.

Michaels had missed four straight cuts. Her best previous LPGA round was 7-under.

"It feels so good to finally have a good round because I've been struggling the last few weeks and going through some swing changes," Michaels said. "And 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 just kind of got back to where I was feeling good over the ball again. So it feels good to finally have a good round."

Lewis, the defending champion, was tied for 33rd after duplicating her 70 of the first round.

Only golfers at even or better made the cut, which included 80 players.