Allisen Corpuz, an American with Filipino lineage, seized the lead with a second-straight five-under-par 65 even as Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan safely made the cut in the Pelican Women’s Championship at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida Saturday.
The 24-year-old rookie, whose father hails from Ilocos Norte, collected six birdies against one bogey to take a one-shot lead.
Saso was in a share of 20th place on 4-under, six shots off Corpuz, after a 68.
She made only one bogey while making three birdies — all in a stretch of four holes.
Pagdanganan, on the other hand, was tied for 38th on 2-under following a 69. She had three birdies against two bogeys.
The tournament, which was cut to 54 holes after Thursday’s play was lost to wet conditions following a storm, is set up for a tight battle with Sweden’s Maja Stark, American Lexi Thompson, and Mexican Maria Fassi all just one stroke off the lead.
The only disappointment for Corpuz came with a bogey on her final hole, the par-3 ninth, but the 24-year-old rookie was delighted to be in top spot.
“I think it’s always really good to see yourself up there. I mean, really just had a good year so far and kind of want to end the season on a good note,” said Corpuz, who has had two top Top 10 finishes so far this season.
While Corpuz is hoping for a first LPGA Tour win, she will be wary of Stark, who is looking for her second victory on the circuit after only joining mid-season.
Stark’s win at the ISPS Handa World Invitational in August saw Corpuz finish runner-up, but the Swede has also had two other wins on the Ladies European Tour this year.
After an electrifying first-round 62, Fassi did enough on Saturday to stay in the race despite a pair of bogeys on the 14th and 15th.
“A lot more today, kind of just saving pars and making four-, five-footers, again, to save pars and stuff,” she said.
“I just couldn’t really get much going. I still managed to get under par and be right there for tomorrow. I know there are plenty of birdies out there for me, and just very excited to go out on Sunday and be in contention,” she said.
Thompson finished her round of 67 with birdies on the 14th and 17th as she looks to improve on her playoff defeat here last season.
“I’ll learn from last year. I played some amazing golf. It wasn’t the outcome I wanted, but I learned from it, built off it, and took the positives from it that I played really well that whole week,” she said.
The winner of that playoff, American Nelly Korda, would have been level with Thompson had she not bogeyed the 18th.
