Kia Classic 2021 R2
March 25-28
Aviara Golf Club, Carlsbad, California
$1,800,000
Round 1, Round 3, Round 4

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Inbee Park followed a first-round 66 with a 3-under 69 on Friday to lead by one shot at 9-under in Carlsbad.

Kia Classic 2021 R2

“I think I will be warming up for probably the next couple of weeks,” said Park. “I haven't played tournament golf in three months and after not touching the golf clubs that much, it's different coming out here trying to contact the ball. It sometimes looks weird. I feel like I'm doing it very well [though].”

She pointed out her struggle with putting which she thinks will have a heavy impact on her game this weekend

“I hit good shots and it's just weird on these greens because I hit the shots really close and I didn't make the birdie putts, but I hit it to 15, 20 feet and I made those birdie putts,” said Park. “The holes I made today was pretty much 10- to 20-footers. Coming in, the last three holes I missed from probably inside 5, 6 feet. Really need patience.”

Kia Classic 2021 R2

Sophia Popov is 8-under at the halfway point. She and Park will be joined in Saturday's final grouping by Mel Reid, in third place at 6-under following a bogey-free 70.

“I'm obviously going to have to play well to get the job done over the weekend having a couple of major champions ahead of me,” said Reid. “Inbee, arguably one of the best golfers that has ever played our game. Good friends with Sophia. Should be a fun weekend, I'm looking forward to it.”

Hyo Joo Kim signed for an even-par 72 to stay at 5-under, while Wei-Ling Hsu managed a 3-under 69 after a rocky start.

In Gee Chun was disqualified following her round for failing to certify her scorecard. Failure to certify hole scores is a breach of Rule 3.3b(2), which states it is the player's responsibility to certify their scores.

Kia Classic 2021 R2