Ko Leads LPGA Founders Cup with Impressive Birdie Finish

Three-time champion Jin Young Ko has birdied six of her last nine holes for an eight-under 63, taking a two-stroke lead in the LPGA Tour's Founders Cup.

In an attempt to win the event on a fourth venue, Ko achieved a 12-under 130 total at Bradenton Country Club after her second consecutive bogey-free round on Friday.

"Golf is hard, so if I lose focus, I can make bogey or double," Ko remarked.

The 29-year-old South Korean player previously won the tournament that honours the tour's founders in 2019 at Desert Ridge in Phoenix, 2021 at Mountain Ridge in New Jersey, and 2023 in a playoff at Upper Montclair, also in New Jersey.

Yealimi Noh recorded a score of 64, keeping pace with American Angel Yin, who shot her second straight bogey-free 66. Japan's Minami Katsu (65) and South Korea's Jin Hee Im (66) are also at 10 under. American Lauren Coughlin closely follows with a score of 67.

Another contender is 2019 Women's PGA Championship winner Hannah Green. The West Australian improved on her opening score of 70 by shooting an impressive six-under 65 to reclaim her spot in contention.

Green's round featured back-to-back birdies on holes 12 and 13 as well as the 16th and 17th. She found eight of 14 fairways and hit 16 out of 18 greens in regulation.

Green is tied for seventh, five strokes behind Ko, who opened with a birdie on her back nine and added another on the 16th. She started her front nine with birdies on holes 1 and 2, added another on hole 4, and made three consecutive birdies on holes 6-8.

"I focused very well and I'm just trying to do my best," Ko said, who broke the course record on the layout that hosted a Drive On event last year.

"My shots were very consistent from the tee and into the second shots. I had plenty of good birdie chances but missed a few putts."

The 15-time LPGA Tour winner played alongside top-ranked Nelly Korda (68-68) and Australian Minjee Lee (70-72) during the first two days.

"It was really fun to play with Nelly and Minjee," Ko shared. "I'm looking forward to the weekend."

Playing in her Gulf Coast hometown, Korda is tied for 13th at six under after another round of 68. She won the Drive On tournament on this course last year, marking the first of her seven victories in 2024.

Lee is at even par after a score of 72.

Among other Australians, Perth's Hira Naveed followed her opening 70 with a 68, landing her in a tie for 18th at four under.

Naveed is two strokes ahead of Gabriela Ruffels (72-68) and four in front of Steph Kyriacou (70-72).

Noh closed her round with a bogey on the par-3 ninth after making birdies on five of the previous six holes.

"I'm just trying to keep it simple," Noh stated. "Hitting fairways and a lot of greens never hurts, so I'm trying to maintain the same tempo and rhythm."

Long-hitting Yin eagled the par-5 sixth on her back nine. She and Ko are the only players yet to make a bogey.

"It's quite tough, honestly," Yin shared. "This is really challenging with the wind picking up and everything getting very tight."