Choi Struggles for First LPGA Win as Korda Falls Back

Hye-Jin Choi is sharing the lead with Carlota Ciganda and Lindy Duncan at The Annika. Choi completed the second round with a 67. She made two bogeys early in the round but recovered late with a 15-foot eagle putt.

World No. 1 Nelly Korda shot a 69 without a bogey. However, her card of 15 pars, one birdie and two closing pars was cleaner than she wanted. Korda is four strokes behind the leaders. Winning at Pelican Golf Club would earn the 28-year-old American a place in the LPGA Hall of Fame.

Ciganda shot a 63 with birdies on her last four holes and joined Choi and Duncan on the leaderboard. All three are co-leaders at 12 under par with a 128 total. Japan's Mao Saigo (65) and Minami Katsu (69) are two strokes back. Choi finished second at the 2017 U.S. Women's Open at age 17, after leading late in the tournament. She also finished runner-up on the Asian circuit in Shanghai and South Korea. The third round of the tournament begins Saturday evening.