'Nike Girl' Koda "2nd Place by 1 Stroke"... Henderson 'Leads'

LPGA Tour 2023 Opening Event HGVTOC Day 1
Celebrity Division Sorensutam Leads, Smolcheu Tied for 4th

‘Nike Girl’ Nelly Korda (USA) is on a winning streak.

On the 19th (local time), Korda posted a 4-under-par round on the first day of the 2023 LPGA Tour season opener, the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions (HGVTOC, total prize money $1.5 million), held at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club (par 72, 6608 yards) in Orlando, Florida. She stood in second place. Brooke Henderson (Canada) led with 5-under-par 67, while Charlie Hull (England) and three others tied for third place at 3-under-par 69.

Nelly Korda is teeing off at the 9th hole on the first day of the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. Orlando=AP·Yonhap News

This tournament is a ‘champion of champions’ event featuring 29 winners from LPGA Tour events over the past two years. Professionals and celebrities (53 players) compete in the same groups. Professionals compete in stroke play, while celebrities compete under a modified Stableford system (awarding 5 points for an eagle, 3 points for a birdie, 2 points for a par, and 1 point for a bogey) to determine the winner.

Korda racked up five birdies and one bogey. In the front nine, she made consecutive birdies on holes 2 and 3 before settling with a bogey on the 4th hole (par 3). On the back nine, she displayed clean play with birdies on holes 11, 14, and 17. She powered her game with an average drive of 262 yards. She trails the leader by one stroke, aiming for her ninth career victory just two months after winning the Pelican Women’s Championship last November. Korda recently signed a sponsorship deal with Nike and has started the new season under their banner.

Henderson recorded six birdies and one bogey. Ranked 7th in the world and boasting 12 career wins including two majors, she is a formidable competitor. Defending champion Danielle Kang (USA) started solidly, tied for 9th place at 1-under-par 71. This group also includes Nasa Hataoka (Japan), Lizette Salas (USA), and Leona Maguire (Ireland). Ariya Jutanugarn (Thailand) struggled, finishing last in 29th place at 12-over-par 84.

In the celebrity division, ‘former golf queen’ Annika Sorenstam (Sweden) showcased a flawless performance with three birdies and no bogeys, leading by two points with 39 points. Defending champion Derek Law is in third place with 34 points, while John Smoltz (USA), winner in 2019 and 2020, is tied for fourth with 33 points, chasing the lead.

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