“`html
In Belleair, Florida, Charley Hull continued her impressive performance following her recent triumph, posting a remarkable 6-under 64 on Thursday to tie for the lead alongside Jiwon Jeon after the opening round of The Annika tournament. Hull’s victory just two weeks prior at the Aramco Team Series-Riyadh marked her first win since she claimed a title in Texas on the LPGA Tour in 2022.
Nelly Korda, the top-ranked player in the women’s world rankings, proved her resilience after nearly two months away from competitive play. She managed to recover with four birdies in her last five holes, shooting a score of 66.
Reflecting on her recent success, Hull expressed, “I feel like I’ve been playing very, very well all year. Sometimes you just forget how to win. So that’s kind of reminded me how to win.” Jeon also had an exciting day on the course, highlighted by her hole-in-one on the par-3 third hole at Pelican Golf Club, complemented by six birdies despite two bogeys.
Jeon achieved her hole-in-one with a hybrid club on the 182-yard hole and described the thrill of seeing the ball enter the hole: “I had exactly the same yardage on the last hole for the second shot, so I was talking to my caddie, ‘Like just hit the same shot?’ Then I hit it, and I saw the one bounce and went in the hole. It was very cool to see the hole-in-one actually going into the hole.”
Currently ranked No. 98 in the Race to CME Globe standings, Jeon is looking to secure a position in the top 60 that qualifies for the upcoming CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Florida. The tournament’s winner will receive a substantial prize of $4 million and be recognized as the CME Globe champion.
Despite potential obstacles, Jeon’s main goal is to retain her LPGA card. Players ranked in the top 100 will maintain full status for the 2025 season. She mentioned, “Obviously, I want to keep my card for next year, but I try not to think about it too much. I literally gave everything for the last three days of practice. I’m trying to focus on every shot, and I think that work really paid off today. I want to continue the same approach for the rest of the tournament.”
Korda prepared for The Annika by participating in a pro-am event, where she played nine holes with WNBA athlete Caitlin Clark. Although she faced challenges early on, ending with back-to-back bogeys, she finished strong with a series of birdies. Korda’s day concluded on a high note after chipping in from just off the green on the 18th hole.
This event marks Korda’s return to competitive golf since her last appearance on September 22 at the Kroger Queen City Championship, having had to withdraw from two events in Asia due to a neck injury. She noted that it was her first time walking an entire 18-hole round in nearly two months: “I was definitely a little nervous on the first couple of holes, just not knowing what to expect from my game because I have not been playing too much,” she admitted. “Under pressure, it is very different from just casually playing a round. But I’m quite satisfied with how I played overall. Although I had a few loose shots midway through, it’s something I can work on.”
In close pursuit were Gemma Dryburgh and Mi Hyang Lee, who each came in a shot behind with a score of 65. Lee arrived at the tournament ranked No. 59, making this round crucial for her goal of extending her season beyond this competition.
“`