BELLEAIR, Fla. — Charley Hull showcased an impressive performance on Friday, marking five birdies and shooting a 4-under 66, which places her two strokes ahead and adds another day to her offseason break, along with a weekend showdown against Nelly Korda at The Annika.
Hull, who recently ended a two-year win drought with a victory in Saudi Arabia, surged ahead on the back nine at Pelican Golf Club, netting three consecutive birdies within a five-hole stretch.
Meanwhile, Korda, returning to action for the first time in nearly two months due to a minor neck injury, began her round with a bogey but rallied back to finish strong, scoring back-to-back birdies for a total of 68, leaving her two shots behind and setting up a final pairing with Hull.
Regarding her anticipated vacation, Hull had made a wager with her boyfriend, promising herself an additional day in Europe for every round in which she achieved five birdies. Remarkably, Hull recorded seven birdies on Thursday.
“I played pretty solid,” Hull commented. “It was quite windy, which made it tricky. I made five birdies today, so that’s an extra day on my holiday.”
Alexa Pano had a rollercoaster round that included nine birdies but ended with a double bogey, ultimately earning her a score of 64, which put her three shots back. She was joined at that score by Jin Hee Im (65), Wichanee Meechai (66), and Mi Hyang Lee (68).
Pano currently ranks No. 66 in the Race to CME Globe, which adds significance to this final tournament, as only the top 60 players from the season will qualify for next week’s CME Group Tour Championship, where the winner receives a hefty $4 million prize.
Lee, positioned at No. 59, made considerable progress toward ensuring her spot in Naples along the Gulf coast.
However, as the weekend approaches, the spotlight remains firmly on the leading duo — Hull, noted for her carefree demeanor, and Korda, recognized as the top contender in women’s golf, who recently participated in a photo shoot for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.
“I always enjoy playing with Charley. She’s always a fun time. Hopefully, we give a good show,” Korda stated.
Hull is currently at 10-under 130.
Korda faced strong winds during her round, focusing on keeping her shots around the pin. Coupling that with the slick greens, she managed another solid round of 66.
“They’re slick, yeah. It’s like putting on ice almost,” Korda expressed. “The golf course is being maintained really well, especially with the wind and the fast greens. When the greens are that firm, the wind truly influences the putts even more.”
Mexican golfer Gabby Lopez entered the week ranked No. 61 in the Race to CME Globe and shot a 66, landing herself in a tie for eighth at 5-under 135, trailing by five shots. Spanish golfer Carlota Ciganda, a staple in the Solheim Cup, also finished at 135 and ranks No. 63.
The tournament also holds significant implications for maintaining an LPGA card for the year ahead. Yuri Yoshida, ranked No. 100, failed to make the cut this week, as did former major champion Hyo Joo Kim, who stood at No. 58 on the points list and faces uncertainty for the final week.
