BELLEAIR, Fla. (AP) \u2014 Linn Grant shot a 7-under 63 on Friday for a share of the lead with Grace Kim in The Annika. Defending champion Nelly Korda made a big move with a 63 of her own, while Kai Trump improved by eight strokes and still finished a distant last.<\/p>\n
\u201cVery, very solid. I hit some really good shots,\u201d said Grant, the Swede who won the 2023 Dana Open for her lone LPGA Tour title. \u201cTee to green today was very good. I felt like I played similar yesterday but I just couldn\u2019t get the putts to go in, and today a lot of them went in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kim had a 66 to join Grant at 9-under 131 at Pelican Golf Club. Kim won the Evian Championship in France in July for her first major title and helped Australia win the recent International Crown.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just kind of kept my mojo going,\u201d Kim said.\u201d Just hit lots of fairways and tried to make a lot of putts. It helped probably I hit a few more close today, making more easier birdies. I guess, just stayed in my lane really.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trump is the granddaughter of President Donald Trump. Playing on a sponsor exemption, the high school senior followed an opening 83 with a 75. At 18 over, she was last in the 108-player field by six strokes.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the first day I was definitely really nervous,\u201d she said. \u201cI think the nerves just got to me. When I went out there today I felt very calm and peaceful to be honest with you. That\u2019s why I played better.\u201d<\/p>\n
First-round leader Haeran Ryu followed her opening 64 with a 68 to drop into a tie for third with Jennifer Kupcho (66) at 8 under. Gaby Lopez was 7 under after a 64.<\/p>\n
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Korda birdied the last three holes to get to 6 under.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just capitalized on my good shots.\u201d Korda said. \u201cI actually didn\u2019t play bad yesterday at all. I just went to the range after and then to the putting green and just kind of told myself that, `It\u2019s a fresh day and you never know what\u2019s going to happen.’ I came out and I started capitalizing a little bit more on the better shots.\u201d<\/p>\n
Korda won the tournament last year to become the first player in 13 years to win seven times in a season. She has yet to win this year.<\/p>\n
Auston Kim (65) also was 6 under with Carlota Ciganda (65) and Lauren Coughlin (66).<\/p>\n
The top 60 in the Race to CME Globe qualify for the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship next week, where all 60 can win the $2 million prize.<\/p>\n
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