Sarah Schmelzel and Amy Yang are in the lead at the halfway point of the Women’s PGA Championship, with world number one Nelly Korda struggling and missing the cut after a second round 81.
Korda, who had won six of her previous seven starts, opened with an 80 two weeks ago at the US Open. She started the tournament tied for second but missed the cut by a stroke after a rough second round that included four straight bogeys before a lone birdie on the 18th.
“No words for how I’m playing right now,” said Korda. “I’m just going to go home and try to reset. A lot went my way at the beginning part of the year, and just giving it back.”
American Schmelzel shot a five-under-par 67 with six birdies to share the lead with South Korea’s Yang, who had a bogey-free 68.
Schmelzel, who has not won in six years on the LPGA Tour, said: “I kind of caught a glimpse of leaderboard on 17 and saw I was right around the lead. It was just nice to be able to finish that well, too, knowing I was around the lead in a major.”
Overnight leader Lexi Thompson recovered from an early double bogey to shoot a 72, leaving her two strokes back alongside Korea’s Jin Young Ko and Hinako Shibuno from Japan.
Ireland’s Leona Maguire shot a 71 to be three strokes off the lead, with England’s Charley Hull a further two shots back after a 73.
