Grant, Kim share lead at The Annika. Kai Trump improves by 8 strokes, still finishes distant last

Linn Grant changeable a 7-under 63 connected Friday for a stock of the pb with Grace Kim successful The Annika

BELLEAIR, Fla. -- Linn Grant changeable a 7-under 63 connected Friday for a stock of the pb with Grace Kim successful The Annika. Defending champion Nelly Korda made a large determination with a 63 of her own, portion Kai Trump improved by 8 strokes and inactive finished a distant last.

“Very, precise solid. I deed immoderate truly bully shots,” said Grant, the Swede who won the 2023 Dana Open for her lone LPGA Tour title. “Tee to greenish contiguous was precise good. I felt similar I played akin yesterday but I conscionable couldn’t get the putts to spell in, and contiguous a batch of them went in.”

Kim had a 66 to articulation Grant astatine 9-under 131 astatine Pelican Golf Club. Kim won the Evian Championship successful France successful July for her archetypal large rubric and helped Australia triumph the caller International Crown.

“I conscionable benignant of kept my mojo going,” Kim said.” Just deed tons of fairways and tried to marque a batch of putts. It helped astir apt I deed a fewer much adjacent today, making much easier birdies. I guess, conscionable stayed successful my lane really.”

Trump is the granddaughter of President Donald Trump. Playing connected a sponsor exemption, the precocious schoolhouse elder followed an opening 83 with a 75. At 18 over, she was past successful the 108-player tract by six strokes.

“For the archetypal time I was decidedly truly nervous,” she said. “I deliberation the nerves conscionable got to me. When I went retired determination contiguous I felt precise calm and peaceful to beryllium honorable with you. That’s wherefore I played better.”

First-round person Haeran Ryu followed her opening 64 with a 68 to driblet into a necktie for 3rd with Jennifer Kupcho (66) astatine 8 under. Gaby Lopez was 7 nether aft a 64.

Korda birdied the past 3 holes to get to 6 under.

“I conscionable capitalized connected my bully shots.” Korda said. “I really didn’t play atrocious yesterday astatine all. I conscionable went to the scope aft and past to the putting greenish and conscionable benignant of told myself that, `It’s a caller time and you ne'er cognize what’s going to happen.' I came retired and I started capitalizing a small spot much connected the amended shots.”

Korda won the tourney past twelvemonth to go the archetypal subordinate successful 13 years to triumph 7 times successful a season. She has yet to triumph this year.

Auston Kim (65) besides was 6 nether with Carlota Ciganda (65) and Lauren Coughlin (66).

The apical 60 successful the Race to CME Globe suffice for the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship adjacent week, wherever each 60 tin triumph the $2 cardinal prize.

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