Linn Grant and Grace Kim lead Annika while Nelly Korda takes the lead

BELLEAIR, Fla. – Linn Grant shot a 7-under 63 for a share of the lead with Grace Kim at The Annika on Friday. Defending champion Nelly Korda made a big step with his own 63, while Kai Trump improved by eight strokes and still finished far last.

“Very, very solid. I hit some really good shots,” said Grant, the Swede who won the Dana Open in 2023 for her only LPGA Tour title. “Tee to green today was really good. I felt like I played the same yesterday, but I just couldn’t get the putts in, and today a lot of them went in.”

Kim had a 66 to join Grant at 9-under 131 at Pelican Golf Club. Kim won the Evian Championship in France in July for her first major title and helped Australia win the recent International Crown.

“I just kept my mojo going,” Kim said. I just hit a lot of fairways and tried to make a lot of putts. It probably helped that I hit a few more close today, making birdies easier. I think I kind of just stayed in my lane.

Trump is the granddaughter of President Donald Trump. Playing with a sponsor exemption, the high school student followed an opening 83 with a 75. When she was 18, she was six strokes ahead of the last in the field of 108 players.

“The first day I was definitely very nervous,” she said. “I think the nerves just got to me. When I went there today I felt very calm and peaceful to be honest. That’s why I played better.”

First-round leader Haeran Ryu followed her opening 64 with a 68 to finish tied for third with Jennifer Kupcho (66) at 8 under. Gaby Lopez was 7 under after a 64.

Korda birdied the last three holes to reach 6 under.

“I just took advantage of my good shots.” Korda said. “I actually didn’t play bad at all yesterday. I just went to the range afterwards and then to the putting green and said to myself, ‘It’s a cool day and you never know what’s going to happen.’ I came out and started to take advantage of the better shots a little more.

Korda won the tournament last year, becoming the first player in 13 years to win seven times in a season. She has not won yet this year.

Auston Kim (65) was also 6 under with Carlota Ciganda (65) and Lauren Coughlin (66).

The top 60 in the Race to CME Globe will qualify next week for the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship, where all 60 can win the $4 million prize.