Golf-Korda shoots with hot 62 to take four-stroke lead at Games

KAWAGOE, Japan, Aug.5 (Reuters) – Nelly Korda ignited Olympic golf with a 62 second round in scorching heat on Thursday to put the United States atop the standings by four strokes as a storm forecast threatened to cut runs to the tournament.

With a temperature exceeding 30 degrees Celsius (86F), world number one Korda caught fire at Kasumigaseki Country Club, flirting with the magical 59 after nine birdies and an eagle leading the 18th.

She needed one more birdie to join Annika Sorenstam in the record books on 59, 20 years after the great Swedish great’s breakthrough day in Phoenix, Ariz., But instead she stumbled with a double bogey six to finish in nine below normal.

Korda said she is approaching the Games as she would any tournament.

“I think when people ask me if I prepare more or if I put more sense than normal (in) the majors or the Olympics or whatever, I say ‘no’, because I participate in any what kind of event with the same behavior and the same objective, “she told reporters.

Korda’s 13-under total of 129 left him four ahead of Danish duo Nanna Koerstz Madsen (64) and Emily Kristine Pedersen (63), and India’s surprise package Aditi Ashok (66).

Swedish overnight leader Madelene Sagstrom (68) finished fifth at eight under, while Japan’s Mone Inami was a shot further after a 65.

With a tropical storm forecast for Saturday and possibly to narrow the event down to 54 holes, Korda’s thriller Thursday could prove to be pivotal in the pursuit of a gold medal and family heirloom to compare with the Australian Open tennis trophy from his father Petr.

“Whatever happens, happens. But I’m not going to tell myself it’s going to be less than 72 holes right now,” she said.

After opening with four straight runs, Korda set the course on fire from fifth, scoring four birdies and an eagle in the sixth to get the turn to 30.

Catching her breath with the par 10 and 11, she renewed her assault from the 12th with five more birdies in six holes.

Looking unstoppable, she hooked her tee shot into the rough in the 18th and effectively forfeited the record bidding by ramming her scavenge down the fairway rather than shooting for the green.

Her third shot found a bunker on the green and she slid a bogey putt past the hole to give her rivals a better chance of catching her on Friday.

South Korean world number two Ko Jin-young (67), six shots behind, could be in the best position to oust Korda if the tournament goes the entire distance.

Former New Zealand world number one Lydia Ko (66), silver medalist in Rio, put three putts on her last two holes to bring the bogeys down to five cents, eight behind Korda.

Rio bronze winner Feng Shanshan of China clocked a 64, 10 strokes better than her first lap, to be nine from the pace, while 2016 champion Park Inbee was 10 behind after a 70.

(This story has been passed on to correct the signature, no changes to the text)

Written by Ian Ransom; Editing by Peter Rutherford

Our Standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.