Korean Duo Leads LPGA
South Korean Duo Kim and Choi Seize Dow Championship Lead as Korda Slips Back
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South Korean pair Hyo Joo Kim and Hye-Jin Choi grabbed the lead at the 2026 Dow Championship on Saturday, sitting at 10-under par heading into the final round. They were one of only six teams to break par during a brutal afternoon of swirling winds at Midland Country Club, according to Associated Press.
The day's biggest drama came from two collapses. Former co-leaders Lilia Vu and Alison Lee carded a triple bogey on hole 16 after Vu hit her tee shot out-of-bounds, dropping them to 8-under. Meanwhile, World No. 1 Nelly Korda and Olivia Cowan shot a 6-over 76 — a 16-stroke swing from their Friday 60 — leaving them at 4-under, six shots back, according to WRAL.
Kim and Choi Grind Out a Steady 69 in the Wind
Kim and Choi posted a 1-under 69 in Saturday's foursomes format — where teammates alternate hitting the same ball. It was their second consecutive 69 in foursomes, showing rare consistency in golf's toughest team format. They now hold a one-shot lead at 10-under par, according to Daily Gazette.
Kim credited the conditions as the key challenge. "The wind was obviously very strong today," she said. "That was a big factor that was different than the first round." Choi added that the crowd gave them an extra boost. "It definitely felt like a Korea team," she said, per Associated Press.
Vu and Lee's Triple Bogey Ends Their Lead
Lilia Vu and Alison Lee looked set to run away with it. The former UCLA teammates made three straight birdies on holes 4 through 6, reaching 11-under. Then came the 16th hole. Vu pulled her tee shot out-of-bounds on the par-4, and the resulting triple bogey wiped out their advantage in one swing, per LMT Online.
Vu took the blame directly. "I've been kind of leaking my drives out right," she said. "It was a pulled draw instead." The duo dropped to 8-under, two shots behind. Lee stayed positive. "I trust her game and hopefully she trusts mine," she said, per Associated Press.
Korda and Cowan's 16-Shot Swing Ends Their Contention
Friday was a dream. Saturday was a disaster for Nelly Korda and Olivia Cowan. The pair shot a 10-under 60 in Friday's four-ball format, then carded a 6-over 76 on Saturday in foursomes — a 16-stroke swing. They now sit at 4-under, tied for 13th, according to Click Orlando.
For Korda, it marks only the second time this season she will not be in the final group on Sunday at an LPGA event. The pairing, nicknamed "Team Legally Blonde," had aimed for a relaxed week between major championships. Instead, Sunday's four-ball finale — where big scores are possible — is their only route back, per MRT.
What Sunday's Final Round Could Decide
Sunday returns to the four-ball format, where teams play their own ball and count the best score. That format produced multiple 60s on Friday, meaning a six-shot lead is not safe. The winning pair will split $729,144. For Choi, a win would be her first LPGA title, per Post Register.
One side story worth watching: Hall of Famer Juli Inkster, 66, made the cut — the oldest player in LPGA history to do so in an official event. The $3.3 million total purse and the unique team format make the Dow Championship one of the tour's most distinctive stops, according to Associated Press.
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