Bradenton’s Nelly Korda co-leads LPGA Drive On Championship after first round

A spectator shouted, “drop,” as Nelly Korda’s putt slid toward the 17th hole.

Within seconds, Korda pumped her fist as the rest of the large crowd cheered the birdie dropping.

A Bradenton native, Korda fired a 6-under par 65 in Thursday’s first round of the 2024 LPGA Drive On Championship at Bradenton Country Club.

She shares the first-round lead with Lydia Ko, who won last week’s season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in Orlando.

The 21-foot putt on 17 steered momentum back for Korda after a three-putt bogey on No. 15.

“I didn’t really even hit a great wedge shot in,” Korda said. “I was pin high so knew it was a right-to-lefter. It was nice to get that one on that hole so I could be under par on the back nine.”

While the birdie putt on 17 erased the miscue on No. 15, her escape from the shell area down the left side of No. 16 was vital, too.

Korda’s tee shot stopped near bushes and a palm tree, but she had a path toward the green. Her approach hit the green and she lagged a lengthy putt to tap-in distance to walk away with a par.

“Obviously, good save,” said Ruoning Yin, who played alongside Korda and shot 4-under par 67.

Bradenton native Nelly Korda co-leads LPGA event

Korda said she had some loose shots on the back nine but was pretty happy overall during a windy day at Bradenton Country Club.

The bulk of her scoring came on the front nine. After starting with a bogey, Korda rebounded quickly. She birdied Nos. 2, 3 and 6, before a tap-in eagle on No. 8 and another birdie on the ninth to close out a 5-under 31 on the outward half.

“I had 257 into the pin and hit my 3-wood really good,” Korda said of the approach into No. 8. “It was helping off the left. Played it nicely off the slope to a tap-in.”

And helping her around the course was a large gallery following every shot.

“I love every single time I get to play in Florida,” Korda said. “I feel like people come out and support. But it’s better to play literally in your hometown, so definitely felt a lot of the support and it was great.”

Wind factor in Drive On Championship

While Korda blitzed the par-71 layout in the morning wave by hitting 17 greens in regulation, Ko put her round together during the afternoon when wind was a factor for part of the round.

“The wind was really strong, and I had actually seen the forecast yesterday that normally the wind, you would think, would pick up throughout the day, and it was actually going to die down towards our back nine, so in ways I think we got pretty lucky,” Ko said. “Last couple days it has been really windy, and I think the wind plays a huge factor around here. Some of the holes, you know, it might normally be a straightforward hole, but because of the wind it makes it a lot more difficult.”

Korda and Ko share the lead by one shot over Nanna Koerstz Madsen, who dropped six birdies against one bogey en route to a 66.

“My approach was just staying — being a little patient out there because it was a grind,” Koerstz Madsen said. “I mean, it was a lot of wind out there, so keep it on the high side of the hole.”

Five players, including Yin, carded 67s. In total, 41 of the 120-player field posted under-par rounds.

Tee times for Friday’s second round begin at 7:25 a.m. The last pairing goes off at 1:33 p.m.

Fan parking is at G.T. Bray Park, where it costs $5, cash only. A shuttle takes patrons to the course.

The low 65 scores and ties make the cut after Friday’s round. The tournament purse is $1.75 million.