Bradenton’s Nelly Korda earns her second-biggest LPGA Symetra Tour check

Bradenton’s Nelly Korda, fresh off making the cut at the United States Women’s Open, logged her second-best finish of her rookie season on the LPGA Symetra Tour this past week. Korda posted a 6-unde par 282 to tie for ninth place and earn more than $4,200 for the performance at last week’s Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic in Rochester, N.Y. She’s now sitting at No. 36 on the Volvik Race for the Card standings with more than $16,500 in earnings. The top 10 money earners at the end of the season earn LPGA Tour cards for 2017.

One local, one former area resident shine at U.S. Women’s Open

Speaking of Korda, Nelly’s older sister, Jessica, tied for 17th at the U.S. Women’s Open earlier this month at CordeValle in San Martin, Calif., while former Manatee County resident Jodi Ewart-Shadoff tied for eighth place for a payday exceeding $115,000.

Rocky Khara notches top-15 showing at Florida Open

Former Lakewood Ranch and Virginia Commonwealth University standout Rocky Khara, who hails from Sebring and lives in Orlando now, racked up a tie for 12th place at last weekend’s Florida Open. Khara, who qualified for the Florida Open at East Manatee’s Waterlefe Golf and River Club’s local qualifier earlier this summer, fired three straight 72s to finish nine shots behind Ocala’s Caleb Johnson, who won his second career Florida Open by six shots after a 69 in Sunday’s final round at Orlando’s Interlachen Country Club.

Area golfers have state junior match play run halted

The area’s last chance at capturing a Florida State Junior Amateur Match Play Championship title ended Wednesday when Lakewood Ranch’s Louis DelFabro and Bradenton’s SiQin “Ariel” Yu fell in the quarterfinals and semifinals of their respective age divisions. DelFabro posted a 150 total over 36 holes of stroke play at Oceanside Country Club in Ormond Beach to qualify as the 16th seed for the boys 16-18 years old match play portion. During his run to the quarters, DelFabro knocked off the tournament’s top seed, Sarasota’s Erik Souchak, with a 1-up victory on Wednesday morning. In the afternoon on Wednesday, DelFabro suffered a 2-and-1 loss to Orlando’s Davis Hingtgen. Meanwhile, Yu was the top seed in the girls division (13-18 years old) after a 140 in stroke play at Sugar Mill Country Club in New Smyrna Beach. Reaching the semifinals, Yu fell Wednesday afternoon to Siyan Chen, of Howey-in-the-Hills, who earned a 1-up victory to reach Thursday’s championship match.

Holes-in-one

On Monday, July 4 at Greens of Manatee, Jim Wheate aced the 105-yard 12th hole with a wedge. Witnesses were Hermon Bond and Jim Clapper.

On Sunday, July 10 at IMG Academy Golf Club, Kevin McHugh aced the 112-yard 11th hole with a 9-iron. Witnessed by Neil Hall.

On Monday, July 18 at University Park Country Club, Michael Levitan aced the 170-yard 24th hole with a 4-hybrid. Witnesses were Jim Neale, Bob Bennett and Bob Amspoker.

This story was originally published July 20, 2016 at 11:32 PM with the headline "Bradenton’s Nelly Korda earns her second-biggest LPGA Symetra Tour check."