Ko Jin-young's Tears "Cut Off After 2 Years and 7 Months~"... Nelly Korda '4th Place, 3 Strokes Behind'

Drive On Championship Day 2: Even Par, Ernst and Cupcho Tied for Lead, Heo Mi-jeong Tied 11th, Jessica Korda Tied 33rd

Ko Jin-young is teeing off on the 10th hole on the second day of the Drive On Championship. Ocala, Florida, USA - Photo by Getty Images/Multibits

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] It is the tears of world No. 1 Ko Jin-young (26).

On the 6th (Korean time), at the Golden Ocala Golf Club (par 72, 6,852 yards) in Ocala, Florida, USA, during the second day of the third event of the 2021 LPGA Tour season, the Drive On Championship (total prize money $1.5 million), she finished even par and struggled, tying for 72nd place (3 over par 147). This is only the second time since her LPGA Tour debut in August 2018 when she was the only player to be cut at the major British Women's Open. Austin Ernst and Jennifer Kupcho (both from the USA) are tied for the lead (10 under par 134).

Ko Jin-young started tied for 86th place, 8 strokes behind the leader, and exchanged one birdie for one bogey. Starting at the 10th hole (par 4), she made a bogey at the 15th hole (par 3) but recovered with a birdie at the 17th hole (par 4). However, she failed to reduce her strokes on the remaining 10 holes and missed advancing to the final round. Her tee shots were good, with an average drive distance of 271 yards and a fairway hit rate of 92.86%. However, her green in regulation rate of 66.67% and 30 putts during the round were her downfall.

Ernst and Kupcho each reduced their scores by 5 strokes, maintaining their positions at the top of the leaderboard for the second consecutive day. Carlota Ciganda (Spain) posted the daily best score of 7 under par, leaping to 3rd place (8 under par 136), just 2 strokes behind. On the other hand, Nelly Korda (USA), the 'Gainbridge Champ' and co-leader from the previous day, shot 2 under par but dropped to 4th place (7 under par 137). Jessica Korda (USA), winner of the opening event Diamond Resorts, is tied for 33rd place (even par 144).

Among Korean players, Hur Mi-jung (32, Daebang Construction) posted the best score, tied for 11th place (3 under par 141). 'Number 2' Kim Se-young (28, Mirae Asset) improved by 2 strokes to tie for 17th place (2 under par 142). Jeon In-ji (27, KB Financial Group) is tied for 24th place (1 under par 143), Ji Eun-hee (35, Hanwha Q CELLS) and Park Hee-young (34, Isu Group) are tied for 45th place (1 over par 145), and Lee Jeong-eun 6 (25, Daebang Construction) and Park Sung-hyun (28) are tied for 58th place (2 over par 146).