By: Max Bechtoldt
While the story of the week may be Nelly Korda’s LPGA Tour dominance, there are other players in strong contention to win through 36 holes.
Haeran Ryu is in the same boat as Korda, as a player who had the tough afternoon/morning wave draw this week, but has excelled. Ryu won the 2023 LPGA Rookie of the Year mostly thanks to her win at the NW Arkansas Championship. Ryu sits in fourth place after an incredible -6 66 on Friday, following an even par thursday round. It was the low round on the leaderboard.
Also high up is world No. 10 Atthaya Thitikul, who is playing in her first event of the season after an injury has kept her inactive. Thitikul is in a tie for the lead at -8 along with rookie Jin Hee Im. Both players shot -5 67 in the afternoon wave. Thitikul is looking for her first major and third career victory at the age of 21.
Korda is still sitting at -7, just one stroke back of the leaders. She has to be an intimidating force on that leaderboard having won her last four starts and being ranked No. 1 in the world.
The third round of the Chevron Championship, the LPGA’s first major of the season, begins tomorrow, starting on Peacock at 2 PM est.
