Nelly Korda has played her best golf in the worst of the conditions in Orlando, shooting an eight-under 64 in the frigid, blustery weather that eventually led to play being suspended for the day in the season-opening Tournament of Champions.
Korda, going after her first win since November 2024, had the best score of the week at Lake Nona on Saturday. She is 13 under, six shots ahead of Canada's Brooke Henderson (66).
South Korean Amy Yang is 10 under with two holes to play in her third round, including the par-3 17th, one of the most exposed holes on the golf course.
New Zealand's Lydia Ko fell back with a double bogey and bogey on consecutive holes on the back nine. She is eight under through 16 holes, along with Youmin Hwang. It was her putt that led LPGA officials to stop play.
Hwang had an 18-foot birdie putt that she missed to the right, and the strong right-to-left wind sent her ball a few more feet to the right until it caught a ridge and rolled off the green.
Korda got in two holes — both birdies — when the wind began to strengthen. And then she hit a gap wedge that landed a few feet beyond the hole and spun back in for an eagle on the third.
She shot 30 on the front nine, added three birdies against one bogey on the back and had 64 to build a lead.
"I knew the conditions were going to be tough, so getting off to a good start like that really helped, the world No.2 said.
"Overall just stayed really focused and super committed on my lines. It's really easy to doubt yourself and your lines in winds and conditions like this."
Korda won seven times in 2024 and then surprisingly went through all of 2025 without a victory.
Lottie Woad of England, who shared the 36-hole lead with Ko, was three over for her round through 16 holes and fell eight shots behind the leader.