Nelly Korda falls short in bid for U.S. Women’s Open berth by one shot

Coming back to Bradenton Country Club to finish a sectional qualifier for the U.S. Women’s Open on Tuesday morning proved bittersweet for Bradenton’s Nelly Korda.

Korda, who was one stroke off the lead after Monday’s first round of the 36-hole sectional qualifier, was among those chased off the course while playing her final nine Monday afternoon by stormy weather. On Tuesday morning, she returned and completed a second-round, 1-under-par 70.

It wasn’t enough.

Korda finished tied for second, one shot behind Naples’ Emma Bradley, who earned the only qualifying spot for the U.S. Women’s Open available on Tuesday.

“It sucks missing it by one,” Korda said. “You live and learn.”

Korda birdied the ninth hole to win a one-hole playoff with Seminole’s Alyssa Lamoureux to gain first-alternate status. That status means if Bradley withdraws before the USGA championship, Korda would take her place. The U.S. Women’s Open is scheduled to take place July 13-16 at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J.

Lamoureux shot a 70-73-143 to finished tied with Korda.

Bradley, who attends Seacrest Country Day School in Naples, shared the first-round lead with Orlando’s Perrine Delacour after both shot 1-over-par 72s. Bradley shot a second-round 70 to win the qualifier. Delacour struggled to a 75 and finished in a tie for fifth.

“It’s a great experience,” Bradley, a Mississippi commit, said of playing in the women’s qualifier at the Bradenton Country Club for a second straight year. “I think it’s a strong golf course. I’m just going to go to the Open and try to play my best.”

Other local golfers who finished Tuesday included Bradenton native Jennifer Neville, a third-year pro, who shot 73-77-150 and tied Sumterville’s Kaeli Jones for eighth. Sifan He finished with a 74-79-153 and Kristin Swindell shot 81-77-158. Only half of the original field played the two full rounds. Twenty-one golfers either withdrew after the first round or chose not to return to finish play Tuesday.

“Being a golfer from here you kind of have to get used to it,” Korda said of the afternoon storms and interrupted round. “You can’t get out of your comfort zone. You just come out the next day and hope for the best. You’ve got to stay calm and not really think about anything; not change your game.”

Korda arrived early for Tuesday’s 8 a.m. resumption of play to work on her game with her coach David Whelan, a longtime swing coach for Paula Creamer.

“He helped me warm up,” she said. “My backswing was going a little long.”

“She didn’t play her best the last two days, but she’s probably 40-50 under par (in 10 tournaments) for the year,” Whelan said. “She works hard. From the first half of Nelly’s season last year to now, it’s light years ahead of where she was.”

With the U.S. Women’s Open qualifier behind her, Korda will turn her attention back to her rookie LPGA Tour season, which she is relishing.

“I like playing all the best golf courses and going to all the cities,” she said. “I love traveling. It’s just a bonus to play with the best players in the world.”

This story was originally published June 13, 2017 at 6:50 PM with the headline "Nelly Korda falls short in bid for U.S. Women’s Open berth by one shot."