Whoa Nelly, Korda teams up to continue red-hot streak

The final two days at Midland Country Club will also feature Juli Inkster, the 66-year-old Hall of Famer who became the oldest player to make the cut when she teamed with 27-year-old Angel Yin for a 68 in four-balls.

"I'm happy I played," said Inkster, born 10 years after the LPGA was founded. "Sometimes you've got to put yourself out there, and I felt like I did that this week."

Mack and Borge were among the late starters and posted a 60 to reach 12-under 128 and zoom past the Japanese duo of Ayaka Furue and Yuna Nishimura (61).

Korda and Cowan also shot 60 to finish two shots behind, with Korda doing most of the damage and Cowan stepping in for a 20-foot birdie putt on their final hole.

After grabbing a share of the first-round lead, Australia's Hira Naveed and her American playing partner Gurleen Kaur shot a second straight three-under-par 67 to be tied for 10th spot at six under.

Naveed and Kaur are searching for their first wins after each ​joined the tour in ‌2024.

World No.1 Korda said she was keen to simply enjoy herself on the golf course after claiming last week's US Open.

"Last week was a great week. This is the perfect week to back up that week. It's just a little more relaxed. It's been a blast," she said.

Korda said there wasn't a lot of golf talk, mostly trying to finish to get lunch and head for their favourite coffee shop.

The US Women's Open at Riviera was her fourth win of the year, and fourth career major, solidifying her perch atop women's golf. She played the part most of the second round in four-balls with several birdie putts.

"Nelly made a lot of putts today," Cowan said. "I felt like I needed to make the last one."

JoAnne Carner holds the LPGA record for individual events, making the cut in 2004 at age 64. The Dow Championship counts as official, so Inkster goes into the record book as the oldest.

This also could be a big week for Cowan, who would get a two-year exemption on the LPGA if she and Korda were to win.