Nelly Korda Is Six Shots Back, and Nobody Saw This Dow Championship Collapse Coming

Can you even believe what just went down at the Dow Championship today?! This is wild, folks. Hyo Joo Kim and Hye-Jin Choi, that incredible South Korean duo, absolutely battled the swirling winds out there in Midland, Michigan, and they've snatched the lead! They posted a 1-under 69 in foursomes, one of only six teams to even break par, and now they're sitting pretty with a one-shot advantage. Our minds are blown thinking about what this means for Sunday!

Korda's Shocking Slip and the Rising South Korean Stars

Alright, let's talk about the biggest surprise of the day: Nelly Korda and Olivia Cowan. Seriously, what happened?! These two were looking to make a big move, but they stumbled hard. They only managed one birdie, bogeyed both par 5s at Midland Country Club, and carded a 76. That's a brutal round, and it dropped them a full six shots behind the leaders. Six shots! Now they're tied for 13th, and here's the kicker: this is only the second time this entire year on the LPGA tour that Korda isn't in the final group. That's a stat that tells you everything you need to know about how unexpected this fall was. Meanwhile, Hyo Joo Kim and Hye-Jin Choi, both absolute rockstars ranked in the top 20 globally, are at 10-under 200. Kim specifically pointed out how tough the wind was, calling it "very strong today," a huge difference from the first round. But they handled it like absolute pros, matching their opening round 69 in foursomes. That's clutch under pressure!

Heartbreak on 16 and a Glimmer of Hope

The drama wasn't just at the top, either. Gina Kim and LPGA rookie Yana Wilson gave us a moment of pure magic, sinking a birdie on the par-3 closing hole. That hole was playing downwind to a front pin over the water, a tricky shot, but they nailed it for a 70, putting them just one shot back from the leaders. They're definitely ones to watch. But then there's the gut-wrenching story of Alison Lee and Lilia Vu. These former UCLA teammates were actually holding the lead until disaster struck on the 16th hole. Vu hit her tee shot out-of-bounds, leading to a triple bogey that just crushed their momentum. Vu explained it later, saying, "It’s a pretty meaty hole. I’ve been kind of leaking my drives out right so just wanted to make sure I had a draw but it was a pulled draw instead." Man, you feel for them. They salvaged a 69, but that triple bogey dropped them to third place at 8-under 202. What a swing! And can we just give a shoutout to Juli Inkster? At 66, she’s the oldest player ever to make the cut in an official LPGA event! She and Angel Yin shot a respectable 70, tied for 20th. Legend! Sunday's fourballs are going to be absolutely electric. Can Korda and Cowan mount an epic comeback from six shots down, or will Kim and Choi hold strong in the wind? And what about Gina Kim/Yana Wilson or Alison Lee/Lilia Vu, just a couple of shots back? The Dow Championship title is up for grabs, and you know we'll be glued to every shot. This is going to be a wild finish!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.