ORLANDO, Fla. — A Lim Kim showcased her skills on the second day of the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, crucial for maintaining her lead over world number one Nelly Korda at the LPGA Tour’s kick-off event.
Kim managed to shoot a 69 at Lake Nona, wrapping up the first two rounds with a commendable total of 10-under 134. Her round was marked by an impressive six birdies against three bogeys, a change from her earlier bogey-free performance. This put her in a comfortable position, leading by three shots over Linn Grant, who carded a 67, and holding a four-shot advantage over Korda. The top-ranked player had a slow start, remaining even par through her first 22 holes, but rallied with an impressive late surge, finishing with a score of 67 after a 6-under performance on the back nine.
Korda expressed her enjoyment of the event, emphasizing the unique pro-am format that pairs professional golfers with athletes and celebrities. “There is no better tournament than this tournament to kind of come back,” she stated, highlighting her camaraderie with players like former MLB stars Kevin Millar and Derek Lowe. Having participated in this event for six years, she noted the friendships she has built over time.
In a light-hearted moment, Korda shared how Lowe intervened when a fan proposed to her. “D Lowe shut him right down,” Korda recounted, impressed by Lowe’s assertiveness in handling the situation. She appreciated his directness, saying, “I didn’t say anything and he was like, ‘Bud, I think that was a no.’”
Korda’s previous season was remarkable, featuring seven wins and her second major title. Meanwhile, Rio Takeda and Leona Maguire both finished four shots behind Kim after posting rounds of 68.
Defending champion Lydia Ko made adjustments to her putting strategy during the tournament. After struggling with a new putter in her opening round, where she scored 73, she reverted to last year’s putter and significantly improved her score with a 67 on Friday, although she still trailed Kim by six strokes. “Obviously it’s not the putter’s fault. It’s all the puttee’s fault,” Ko acknowledged, admitting to her earlier performance. “Coming back to something that I’m familiar with and I know that I’ve putted well with was, I think, a good change for me.”
In a separate segment of the event, former NHL player Joe Pavelski topped the celebrity leaderboard, edging out Mardy Fish. Retired athletes Mark Mulder and Jeremy Roenick, along with Lowe, were two points behind.
