The ANNIKA Round 2: Birdies Fuel the Battle at Pelican

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The second round of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge brought another important day of golf to Pelican Golf Club. The tournament entered Friday with low scores, a crowded leaderboard, and several players chasing a significant victory. Hye-Jin Choi and Minami Katsu shared the opening-round lead after matching nine-under-par 61s.

Meanwhile, Lindy Duncan stood one shot behind following an impressive 62. World No. 1 Nelly Korda remained firmly in contention after opening with a bogey-free 63. Friday’s action carried additional importance because the LPGA season approaches its conclusion. Players continued battling for tournament position and valuable Race to CME Globe points. Furthermore, several competitors entered the week hoping to secure places in the season-ending championship.

Early Leaders Set a Demanding Pace

Choi and Katsu established an aggressive scoring standard during Thursday’s opening round. Choi collected nine birdies and hit 17 greens in regulation. Her precision helped produce the lowest round of her LPGA career. Meanwhile, Katsu matched that score through a bogey-free performance. Three consecutive birdies late in her round helped her catch Choi. Both players entered Friday knowing their closest challengers could erase small advantages quickly.

Duncan also delivered one of the tournament’s biggest highlights during the opening round. She made a hole-in-one at the par-three third hole. Allisen Corpuz matched that achievement on the same hole during Thursday’s action. Those spectacular shots demonstrated how quickly fortunes could change at Pelican. However, the leaders still needed consistent approaches and reliable putting to maintain their positions.

Carlota Ciganda Makes Her Move

Spain’s Carlota Ciganda emerged as an important name during Friday’s second round. A live leaderboard snapshot showed Ciganda reaching 12-under-par, seven strokes better than her opening-round position. That surge placed her ahead of Thursday’s leading scores at the time of the update. However, the available information did not establish her final Friday score or finishing position.

Ciganda’s climb demonstrated how quickly the leaderboard could change. She entered Friday at five-under after an opening 65. Her improvement also increased the pressure on the overnight leaders. A strong second round could prove especially valuable entering Saturday’s moving day. Nevertheless, Ciganda still needed to maintain her momentum through the remaining tournament rounds.

Nelly Korda Chases Another Pelican Victory

Korda entered Friday with plenty of confidence following her outstanding opening performance. She already owns three tournament victories at Pelican, winning in 2021, 2022, and 2024. Her opening round featured seven birdies, including five across the front nine. She birdied the first, third, fourth, seventh, and ninth holes before making the turn. Later, birdies at the 14th and 17th helped complete her impressive return.

Korda also entered the tournament chasing one final point toward LPGA Hall of Fame eligibility. Another victory would secure that milestone. Additionally, she had already clinched the 2026 Rolex Player of the Year award. However, Friday’s complete hole-by-hole scoring remained unavailable in the sources I could verify. Therefore, her opening-round highlights provide context rather than confirmed second-round achievements.

The 14th Hole Offers a Major Opportunity

Pelican’s par-five 14th hole remained one of the most important strategic locations on the course. The 529-yard hole serves as the tournament’s Aon Risk Reward Challenge hole. Players must decide whether aggressive approaches justify the potential trouble around the green. A successful attack can create an eagle opportunity or a relatively straightforward birdie.

However, an inaccurate approach can quickly erase that advantage. Consequently, the 14th could influence the leaderboard throughout the weekend. Korda demonstrated its scoring potential with a birdie during Thursday’s opening round. Friday’s individual results at that hole still require confirmation from updated scorecards.

CME Championship Qualification Adds Pressure

The ANNIKA represents the final regular-season opportunity to qualify for the CME Group Tour Championship. Only the top 60 players in the Race to CME Globe standings advance. Duncan entered the tournament ranked 74th in those standings. Her opening 62 dramatically improved her prospects, although she still needed another strong performance.

Meanwhile, established contenders could concentrate on positioning themselves for the tournament championship. Players near the qualification cutoff faced a different challenge. Every birdie could influence their opportunity to compete in Naples next week. Furthermore, costly bogeys could prove particularly damaging for golfers chasing those final qualification spots.

Weekend Drama Awaits at Pelican

Saturday’s third round will give the contenders another opportunity to separate themselves from the field. The tournament concludes Sunday, November 15, following 72 holes of stroke play. The opening round already delivered spectacular scoring, two holes-in-one, and a strong return from Korda. Friday’s emerging leaderboard movement suggested another competitive weekend. Ciganda’s surge added another storyline to an already talented field. Meanwhile, Choi, Katsu, Duncan, and Korda entered the second round with legitimate championship ambitions.

Pelican rewards accurate iron play, confident putting, and smart decisions around its demanding greens. Those qualities should remain essential as the championship approaches its final two rounds. The ANNIKA still has plenty at stake, including a championship trophy, Hall of Fame implications, and season-ending qualification opportunities.

About Post Author

Bradley Walker

Bradley Walker (VP) and Head of our Florida operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball. Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour. In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights. He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a host on The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.

bradleywalker3083@gmail.com

http://ngscsports.com

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Bradley Walker: Bradley Walker (VP) and Head of our Florida operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.

Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.

In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.

He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a host on The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.