Ashleigh Buhai leads on LPGA Tour and Nelly Korda shows no sign of Solheim fatigue

Ashleigh Buhai took the lead at the LPGA Tour’s Kroger Queen City Championship with an impressive 7-under 65 at TPC River’s Bend, setting herself two strokes ahead of her competitors. Buhai, the former Women’s British Open champion from South Africa, benefited from a few weeks of rest after an injury-plagued season, allowing her to produce eight birdies and a clean round. Meanwhile, Nelly Korda, fresh off her Solheim Cup performance, displayed no signs of fatigue with a bogey-free 67, placing her two shots behind Buhai.

Korda, alongside Leona Maguire, who also shot 5-under, was among 11 players transitioning quickly from the Solheim Cup to the LPGA event.

Despite her fatigue from the Solheim Cup, where she went 3-1, Korda remained motivated and focused, emphasizing the value of her mistake-free round. Maguire, who played fewer matches in the Solheim Cup than previous years, also found herself more refreshed, carding a 5-under 67. As the tournament progresses, both Korda and Buhai aim to maintain their strong momentum. While Buhai credited her lead to much-needed rest, Korda is relying on her competitive spirit to keep her energized throughout the tournament.