ESPN Golf: Kim & Choi Lead Dow Championship as Korda Struggles in Swirling Wind

Overview

South Korean partners Hyo Joo Kim and Hye-Jin Choi carded a 1-under 69 in Saturday's foursomes round at the LPGA Dow Championship, building a one-shot lead at 10-under 200 through 54 holes. With gusty winds making scoring difficult at Midland Country Club in Michigan, only six teams managed to break par—and Kim and Choi led them all.

Leaderboard Snapshot

- 1st (−10): Hyo Joo Kim & Hye-Jin Choi – 69 today, consistent all week - 2nd (−9): Gina Kim & Yana Wilson – saved their round with a closing birdie on 18 - 3rd (−8): Alison Lee & Lilia Vu – led until a costly OB on the 16th led to triple bogey - T13th (−4): Nelly Korda & Olivia Cowan – posted 76, falling six shots back

Korda Struggles in Wind

Double major champion Nelly Korda and playing partner Olivia Cowan managed just one birdie while bogeying both par-5s en route to a 76. It will be only the second time this LPGA season Korda will not play in the final pairing. The format shifts to fourball on Sunday, giving them a better chance to produce individual fireworks—but the deficit is steep.

Vu's OB Derails Lee's Charge

Alison Lee and former UCLA teammate Lilia Vu appeared positioned for the top spot until Vu's tee shot on 16 sailed out of bounds. The resulting triple bogey dropped them into third.

Historic Moment: Juli Inkster at 66

Veteran Juli Inkster became the oldest player in LPGA history to make the cut in an official event at age 66, partnering with Angel Yin for a 70 to sit T20th heading into the final round.

Strokeslab's Take

The Dow Championship's team format makes SG analysis tricky, but Korda's collapse on the par-5s strongly suggests tee-to-green issues exacerbated by the swirling wind. Sunday's fourball format—where both partners play their own ball—could be her lifeline.