ShareLOS ANGELES: Two-time major winner Lilia Vu fired an eight-under par 64 to grab a two-stroke lead after Friday’s second round of the LPGA Ford Championship. The 27-year-old American made eight birdies in a bogey-free round to stand on 14-under par 130 after 36 holes at Whirlwind Golf Club in Chandler, Arizona. “I just stayed in my bubble,” Vu said. “My caddie knew I was stressed this morning, and on the range he just said, ‘Just hit your start lines and I’ll handle the rest. We’re going to be OK.’ That definitely gave me a sense of comfort.”
Sixth-ranked Vu, a former world number one, seeks her sixth LPGA title and the first since last June’s Meijer Classic, her first event after a three-month absence for a back injury that still bothers her. “I wasn’t worried too much about the golf. I was kind of more focused on my body stuff and trying to get through the round without any pain and just stay strong throughout,” Vu said.
“I’ve been trying to get in tune with my body. I’m not in pain anymore. I’m just waiting for the power to kick in a little bit. I think that’s something that’s kind of been lacking, but I just focused on staying true to my process and just playing golf.”
A second-place pack on 132 included top-ranked Nelly Korda of the United States who fired a 65, and world number two Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand who shot 64. Also two adrift were England’s Charley Hull and Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen.
Korda, a back-nine starter, made five birdies in her first nine holes then three more after the turn against a lone bogey at the par-4 fourth. “Got off to a good start,” Korda said. “Slowed a little down on the back nine, but the wind picked up a little. It was starting to play a little bit firmer. Once the round and the heat starts to play a factor, you have to be a little bit more timid.” Thitikul, also a back-nine starter, began with three birdies and an eagle at the par-5 12th in her first four holes. She added four birdies the rest of the way and made her only bogey at four as well. “I didn’t have a good confidence before coming here with my putter much, but I think for this two round I putted really well,” Thitikul said.
Hull, who fired a 63 on Thursday for the 18-hole lead, fired a 69. “I felt like I played pretty solid out there,” Hull said. “I holed some good putts and I missed some that I probably should have holed, but it was a bit windy. I’m pretty happy with that and looking forward to the weekend.”
World number 10 Hull seeks her third career LPGA triumph and first since the 2022 Volunteers of America Classic. Madsen, whose lone LPGA win came in Thailand in 2022, fired a 68. “It was tricky out there. The greens were really firm. It got a little windy,” Madsen said. It was good to make pars.” —AFP
