Staff WriterGrant stormed into the tie with a blistering 7-under 63 — the sort of round that makes statisticians sweat and the field nervous. Eight birdies, one lonely bogey, a sparkling 17-of-18 greens hit… she was clinical.
It’s her first time leading or co-leading after 36 holes on the LPGA Tour, and she did it in style. And her connection to the event’s namesake is obvious. “Yeah, I played in Annika’s events since I was 14, 13… she’s been a huge inspiration,” Grant said, the kind of honest tribute that reminds everyone why this event still carries weight.
Kim wasn’t about to let her stroll off with the spotlight. She backed up an opening 65 with a 66 that barely broke a sweat. Five birdies, a single bogey, and a whole lot of calm. Fresh off a season already anchored by a major title at The Amundi Evian Championship, she looks like someone who’s figured out how to handle the noise.
“I’m still a little bit uncomfortable I guess… but at the same time, every time it does sound quite refreshing,” she said. That blend of self-doubt and steel tends to age well over four-day tournaments.
Behind them, Jennifer Kupcho and Haeran Ryu share third place at -8. Kupcho’s second straight 66 included an eagle on the Aon Risk Reward hole that has her projected to leap Minjee Lee in the standings. Ryu, who leads almost everyone in fairways hit, is playing with the calm of someone who genuinely means it when she says: “I just want to more enjoy and I don’t want to do more stress for my golf.”
From there, the leaderboard glows with danger: Gaby Lopez at -7 after a scorching 64 — her best round of the season — and a four-strong logjam at -6 featuring Korda, Auston Kim, Carlota Ciganda and Lauren Coughlin.
Korda Wakes Up Swinging
Korda reminded everyone why she’s a three-time winner of this event, uncorking a 63 that was as clean as they come — bogey-free, seven birdies, and a finishing kick on 16-18 that would make a sprinter blush.
As she put it: “Yeah, I mean, I was hitting it pretty good off the tee… at the end of the day you have to make the putts and I just wasn’t doing that yesterday; I did that today.”
Dangerous words if you’re trying to outrun her.
From Aces to Announcements: The Rest of the Story
Bailey Tardy dropped a hole-in-one on No. 3 — her second on Tour — which sends another donation to St. Jude through CME Group Cares. “I’m super happy I get to do that again this year,” she said.
The toughest moment of the week came for Elizabeth Szokol, who missed the cut by one after a three-putt on the 18th — and then officially retired. Her home course, her family watching, her career coming full circle. “It is pretty amazing and special… definitely extra special and amazing to be able to retire here,” she said.
It was human, honest, and the kind of moment the ANNIKA always seems to produce.
The Leaders at a Glance
Grace Kim
- Rolex Ranking: 28
- 2025: One win (Evian), three top-10s, 15 cuts made
- Career: Two LPGA wins, eight top-10s, $3.3M career earnings
Linn Grant
- Rolex Ranking: 53
- 2025: Four top-10s, 10 cuts made
- Career: One LPGA win, 17 top-10s, $3.4M career earnings
- Six-time LET winner
- First woman ever to win the Scandinavian Mixed — twice
Both know how to close. Both know this course. And both seem ready for a weekend that could rewrite record books.
Shots, Stats and the Ghost of Pedersen’s Records
Emily Kristine Pedersen still holds the 36-hole scoring record at 128, and while Grant and Kim sit three back of that mark, nobody’s sleeping easy. Amy Yang’s 61 remains the 18-hole target, and with softened greens and enough humidity to float a wedge shot, anything is in play this weekend.
Sunday Is Set Up to Be a Classic
The ANNIKA always reveals its contenders by Friday. This year, it has politely handed us two of the season’s most dependable players in Grant and Kim, a pack of hungry pursuers, and a course that rewards nerve over noise.
If the opening rounds are anything to go by, the weekend won’t merely crown a winner — it’ll tell us who’s ready to carry the torch of the event’s namesake.
