Nelly Korda Leads ISPS Handa Australian Open After First Round

AN eagle on the Par-4 8th hole kick-started Nelly Korda’s tournament and help the teenager to a share of third after the first day of the ISPS Handa Australian Women’s Open today.

Faced with a blind second shot into the wind, the 19-year-old was sitting at 1-over before holing out from about 150 yards to move into red numbers at the challenging Kooyonga Golf Club in Adelaide, South Australia.

Nelly Korda went on to make three birdies on the back nine to post a 4-under 68 to be in a 10-way tie for third. South Korean Jin Young Ko leads on 7-under 65 while another South Korean, Jiyai Shin is in second on 5-under.

Americans Mo Martin, Emma Talley and Caroline Inglis are also tied for third on 4-under while Meghan Kang and Erynne Lee are a further shot back at 3-under in the LPGA event.

World No.9 Cristie Kerr is in a tie for 32nd after shooting a 1-under 71.

Playing in the afternoon, Shin opened her tournament with a birdie on the first hole on her way to a bogey free 67 while Ko fired nine birdies and two bogeys to take the lead with a 7-under 65.

Martin said she was “super happy” with her bogey-free round of 68.

“The weather’s turned into being absolutely beautiful for us … the golf course is in great shape and it’s a really fun golf course to play.

“You just have to play great golf here, and I like golf courses like that.

“I think my game’s kind of coming together in a special way, so, I’m really looking forward to this year.”

via The Lead South Australia