China’s Yin ‘mentally tired’ after second round grind, Korda takes Women’s Open lead
- China’s Yin Ruoning shoots even par 72 to sit fourth on leaderboard, with American Nelly Korda opening up a 3-stroke lead after a 68
Nelly Korda surged into the lead at the Women’s Open at St Andrews on Friday, firing a second consecutive round of 68 to sit at eight-under-par and three shots ahead of the field.
Defending champion Lilia Vu and England’s Charley Hull, the local favourite and first-round leader, were tied for second, with China’s Yin Ruoning alone in fourth at four under, after a even-par 72.
Korda, who is looking for her seventh win of the year, has never finished higher than ninth in the Open and said she was not thinking about anything other than “one shot at a time”.
“Whatever golf and links golf throws at me, I’m going to take it head on,” she added.
Hull shot even par and Vu had a two-under 70 on Friday. Seeking her first career major title, Hull said she gave too many strokes back on the greens to keep pace with Korda.
“I left a lot of putts out there. I think Nelly had 30 putts and I had 36 putts,” Hull said. “So that’s six putts that I’ve lost to her on the greens.”
