Icher leads at Shoprite LPGA Classic
Karine Icher tied the Bay Course record with a nine-under-par 62 to claim a one-shot lead at the Shoprite LPGA Classic.
Icher, who is on 12-under, is ahead of Na Yeon Choi and Haru Nomura, who sit in a tie for second on 11-under.
Defending champion Anna Nordqvist, who was in a share of the overnight lead, dropped down into fourth place on the leaderboard and is on 10-under.
Meanwhile, world number four Brooke Henderson is nine strokes adrift of the lead in a tie for 36th.
Icher, who finished in a tie for 65th at the LPGA Volvik Championship last week, got off to a magnificent start as she made consecutive birdies at the 14th and 15th before making two more at the 17th and 18th to round off her front nine. She maintained her momentum heading into her back nine as she made four successive birdies from the third to sixth and another one at the eighth to wrap up her bogey-free round.
Choi, who carded a 64, began her round with a duo of birdies on the front nine. The South Korean shifted her game to the next level on the back nine as she went on to make five birdies, which put her in contention heading into the third and final round on Sunday.
Nomura continued to remain consistent as she followed her 65 in the first round with a 66. The 23-year-old kicked off her round with an eagle at the par-five third before faltering with a bogey at the sixth. She atoned for her mistake though as she made birdies at the eighth and ninth. Nomura continued to impress on the back nine as she made three birdies and a bogey to stay within touching distance of Icher.
Nordqvist fired a 68 on Saturday, which consisted of five birdies, four bogeys and an eagle at the third.
Henderson, who registered a 70, started her round with back-to-back bogeys at the fifth and sixth before making her first birdie at the ninth. The Canadian sensation turned her fortunes around on the back nine though as she made three birdies and a bogey.
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