Korda Breaks 36-Hole Record, Leads Chevron by Six

Nelly Korda moved closer to a third major title by setting a new 36‑hole scoring benchmark at the Chevron Championship and opening a six‑stroke advantage heading into the weekend.

The world No. 2, who won this event two years ago, sits at 14 under after carding a second straight 65. No other player in the field posted better than 67 across the opening two rounds. Korda birdied the final two holes on Friday to pull further clear and has made only one bogey through 36 holes at Memorial Park.

Korda's 36‑hole total of 130 is the lowest of her major career and ranks among the best 36‑hole scores in LPGA major history, trailing the 127, 128 and 129 totals recorded previously at the Evian Championship.

Her six‑shot cushion is also tied for the largest 36‑hole lead at an LPGA major since 1980, matching Patty Sheehan (1990) and In Gee Chun (2022).

"I'm comfortable with my game," Korda said. "I think where I'm the most comfortable is definitely with my mindset of knowing when I mess up I'll figure it out. Sometimes I think you get stuck in wanting to play well and wanting to be at the top always that you have this tension of not wanting to make a mistake."

Korda leads Patty Tavatanakit by six strokes; Tavatanakit is alone in second at eight under. Ina Yoon, Ryan O'Toole and amateur Farah O'Keefe are a stroke further back, sharing third.

World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul missed the cut after rounds of 74 and 73, finishing three over. LPGA rookie Mimi Rhodes, who had been in contention after an opening 69, also missed the cut after a six‑over 78 on Friday that included four dropped shots over her final five holes.

English contenders Charlie Hull and Lottie Woad both made the weekend, sitting at two under and one over respectively after Friday rounds of 70 and 72.